Auction Item Details
Lot 124
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Lot Number: 124
Description: Historic game used baseball from the Inaugural 1933 All-Star Game signed by the game umpires. The Great Depression of the 1930s severely damaged American culture as it was known at the time, including the game of baseball, which experienced dwindling crowds and enormous financial challenges. In an effort to spur interest in the national pastime, the sports editor for the Chicago Tribune, Arch Ward, approached officials of the American and National Leagues. Ward's idea was pit the best of both leagues against each other in an All-Star game to be played in Chicago in conjunction with the "Century of Progress Exhibition". Set for Comiskey Park on July 6, 1933, before a huge crowd of 49,200, the game featured the finest players of the period including Gehrig, Gomez, Foxx, Klein, Simmons, Grove, Cronin, Terry, Frisch, and Babe Ruth. Appropriately, the American and National League teams were led by managers Connie Mack and John McGraw, respectively. The two grand old men of baseball had been battling each other on the field for nearly 30 years, dating back to their epic contests as managers of the Philadelphia Athletics and New York Giants. The offered baseball is one of only a scant few documented to have been used during the 1933 All-Star game and originates from the personal collection of Mule Haas. The ball itself is an off white J.Heydler National League baseball which has been inscribed, in Haas' hand, on a side panel, "Ball used in the AllStar game at Chicago July 6, 1933 American 4 National 2". Additionally, the four umpires for the game have signed the ball incl. Bill Dineen, Bill Klem, Bill McGowan, and Chas. Rigler. Signatures range from 6-8 out of 10 including the very rare autographs of Klem and McGowan. Other than the ball that Babe Ruth hit for the inaugural home run during the 1933 All-Star game which we auctioned in 2006, the offered baseball is the only other documented game used ball from that game that we have encountered. Includes LOA from James Spence Authentication: Range EX-EX/MT
Estimated Price: ($15,000.00-$25,000.00)
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