Auction Item Details
Lot 410
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Lot Number: 410
Description: 1939 World Series Yankees/Reds autographed baseball. Off-white Harridge AL ball is signed by (14) members of the 1939 World Champion New York Yankees and (10) members of their World Series opponent, the Cincinnati Reds. Yankees signatures include Gehrig, DiMaggio, McCarthy, Dickey, Ruffing, Gomez, Rolfe, Crosetti, Gordon, Keller, Dahlgren, Pearson, Selkirk and Hadley. Reds signatures include Lombardi, McKechnie, Derringer, Frey, Vander Meer, Berger, Riggs, McCormick, Myers and Goodman. One signature is unidentified. Signatures range from 5-8 out of 10, averaging 7/10. The ball itself shows light handling wear with no significant blemishes. The key attribute to this important ball is the presence of Gehrig's authentic signature. In the 16 years preceding the 1939 season, Gehrig averaged 38 homeruns and 150 RBIs. But through the first 8 games of the 1939 season, Gehrig batted .143 with 1 RBI. Unknowingly suffering from ALS, Gehrig voluntarily benched himself on May 2, 1939, putting an end to his record consecutive-game streak of 2,130. Two months later on July 4, Gehrig would make his famous Farewell speech at Yankee Stadium. No longer on the Yankees active roster, Gehrig's health was diminishing by the time the Yankees played in the 1939 World Series. Gehrig appeared with the Yankees as an honorary team captain, but rarely signed autographs, making this ball an exceptional rarity. Also among the ball's considerable attributes is the ideal dual placement of opposing mangers McKechnie and McCarthy on the sweet spot. Includes LOA from JSA: EX/MTEstimated Price Range: ($3,000-$4,000)
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