This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/18/2014.
Official Interstate League baseball dates from 1950 and was signed by Willie Mays at the age of nineteen during his one season with the Trenton Giants, a Class B member of the Interstate League. This is the earliest signed Mays baseball we have ever seen. Mays’ signature, which is one of four player signatures on the ball, appears in blue ink and in our opinion, rates an 8-9 overall. It reads, “Willie Mays Jr.”. JSA states this is the only baseball we have ever seen or heard of signed with his early, “Jr.” style. Mays abandoned including “Jr.” when reaching the majors one year later. According to the ball’s original owner, this baseball was obtained during a Trenton Giants game on July 2, 1950. One panel reads, “Trenton Giants vs. Sunbury A’s”. Another reads, “All These Players Hit Homers In This Game”. A third panel reads, “July 2, 1950” and has the signatures of Eric Rodin and Ted Heitschmidt “Fouled This Ball”. The fourth panel has Mays’ signature and Ace Bell’s signature. The baseball exhibits moderate to heavily soiling. Accompanied by an LOA from JSA and PSA/DNA.