This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/4/2008.
The Splendid Splinter played nineteen seasons in the big leagues and is widely considered to be the greatest hitter of all time. He won the triple crown twice and finished his career with 521 home runs. On September 20th, 1955, he belted number 394 of his career during a double header at Fenway Park while facing the Orioles. This baseball was THE baseball hit by Ted Williams for his 394th career home run and was caught in the visitor’s bull pen by Orioles pitcher Charles Locke. As the story goes, told to us directly from Locke, he was called up from San Antonio in September of 1955. He was warming up in the bull pen and talking with his pitching coach, Harry Brecheen when Williams came to the plate. Teddy Ballgame bashed this ball towards the bullpen and Locke reached up, snagged it and put it in his back pocket. The ball is an OAL Harridge baseball with heavy dirt staining and a few scuffs. Locke has added an inscription “9/20/1955 Orioles vs. Red Sox Ted Williams 394 Home Run.” This piece of baseball history is accompanied by a hand-signed LOA from Charlie Locke detailing how he caught this great ball and that “it has never been out of my care.” WOW!