This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
This lot of four balls cover the two incarnations of the Washington Senators. The 1936 edition of the team went 82-71 and finished in fourth place. The lightly toned OAL Harridge ball contains 24 signatures from that team including manager Bucky Harris (SS), Bobo Newsom, Ossie Bluege, Carl McNeely, Ben Chapman, Johnny Stone, Jimmie Deshong, etc. When the team moved to Minnesota in 1960 to play as the Twins, an expansion Senators moved in and played until 1971, to Texas. The ‘61 and ‘62 Seantors had some colorful characters, including Jimmy Piersall who impishly signed the ‘62 ball over the stamped signature of league president Joe Cronin. The ‘61 ball (27 signatures) has more readable signatures, rating 8s and 9s compared with the 6s and 7s of the ‘62 ball (21), both of which are toned and feature manager Mickey Vernon and owner Rollie Hemsley on the sweet spot. The lightly toned ‘66 ball (26 signatures) is notable for the looming signature of manager Gil Hodges on the sweet spot. Other names include Frank Howard, Ed Brinkman, Pete Richert, Paul Casanova, Tom Haller, etc. Signatures rate 8s and 9s.