This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 4/30/2009.
This Reach OAL (Harridge) baseball with “U.S.N.” stamp has been signed in blue and black ink by over 30 superstars and Hall of Famers. Signatures include Honus Wagner, who has used an entire side panel to pen the inscription “To Joe Fallon – Doni-Tony from Honus Wagner – Pirates 45.” Other signatures include Jimmy Collins, whose signature is exceedingly rare on a baseball and is one of the main highlights of this unusual ball, Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Mel Ott, Hugh Duffy, Joe DiMaggio, Johnny Mize, Ralph Kiner, Al Schoendienst, Al Schacht, Rip Sewell, Eddie Stanky, Walker Cooper, Tex Carlton, Johnny Lindell and heavyweight champion Joe Louis. It appears that this ball was signed over a period of time in the 1940s, as Jimmy Collins passed away in 1943 and Wagner has dated his signature 1945. The ball has a coating of shellack and is in overall EX-EXMT condition. The Wagner signature and inscription are bold and grade a 9, with the Ruth a 7 to 8, the Collins, Young, Ott and Louis averaging a grade of 6 and the DiMaggio grading a 4. Approximately eight other signatures on the ball are either very faint or illegible. Accompanied by a LOA from JSA.