This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2004.
Upon his return from the Navy after WWII (he won eight battle stars), Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller won 26 games in 1946, one short of his career high 27 in 1940. Hall of Famer Rube Waddell had held the season strikeout record with 343 in 1904, until Feller broke it in 1946 with 348 (although later research credited Waddell with 349 Ks, at the time the record was known to be 343). We offer the ball that was the final baseball used in the 9/29/1946 Indians game where Feller broke the record. The ball shows its age, with heavy wear and some of the coating worn off. On the side panel is written in fountain pen "Last ball of game in which Bob Feller broke Rube Waddell's strike out record with a total of 348, 9/29/46." Comes with a letter from PSA/DNA as well as a letter from Eddie Robinson, first baseman and Feller's teammate on the 1946 Indians, attesting to the authenticity of the ball. Impeccable provenance on a historic ball.