This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 5/11/2001.
During times of war it was very common for the ball players of the day to get together and play a game to raise money for the effort. This OAL Harridge ball has been signed at one such game and has an incredible collection of signatures from some of the best to have ever played the game. The ball was donated to the war effort and sold to raise funds. A copy of the newspaper article discussing the initial sale of this incredible ball in 1945 accompanies this piece. According to the article the ball originally sold for $5,600 in 1945. This is, perhaps, the first documented sale of a piece of baseball memorabilia. Signers include Walter Johnson, Jimmie Foxx, Hank Greenberg, Joe McCarthy, Chas Gehringer, Luke Appling, Ted Lyons, Joe Cronin, Red Ruffing, Bob Feller, Lefty Grove, Red Rolfe and several others. The signatures rate from 3 to strong 8 with some of them, especially on one panel, having faded over time. The Foxx is the best on the ball rating a strong 8 while Johnson is a 5, the majority of the Hall of Famers are clear and readable. All together an incredible collection of signatures.