This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/26/2016.
On September 27th, 1973, Nolan Ryan had his last start of the season against the Minnesota Twins. In a 5-4 win, Ryan earned his 21st win of the season in addition to breaking Sandy Koufax’s single-season strikeout record with an 11th inning strikeout of Rich Reese. This “REACH” manufactured OAL baseball was the next-to-last pitch Ryan threw against Reese, which was his final batter faced in the game and the pitch before setting a new single-season record with 383 strikeouts. Ryan signed the sweet spot of the baseball in pen and in our opinion, rates an 8 overall. In blue maker, one panel of the baseball reads, “Next To Last Pitch, Which Made Ryan Single Season Strike Out King. 383 Ks 9/27/73”. Another panel reads, “Rich Reese Minnesota Twins Batter” and an adjacent panel reads “382 2-3”. Accompanied by an LOA from JSA. This ball was consigned directly from the bat boy and will be accompanied by an LOA from him in addition to a team photo. The LOA reads, “I call this ball 382 2-3. This ball represents strike two on Rich Reese of the Minnesota Twins...I retrieved the ball and stuck it in my back pocket knowing full well that strike three would represent 383 strikeouts, a new single season record. That ball is now housed at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. This is the one prior to.”