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Memory Lane Inc. Premier Collectibes Auction - March 30th, 2006 |
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The Fan, in the stands that day, who got Babe Ruth’s Last Home Run Ball at Yankee Stadium on August 23, 1942, tells his story!
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THE ACTUAL LAST HOME RUN BALL, HISTORY, SCUFFING, CHARACTER, AND ALL! LOT 1 1942 Exhibition Game Used, Last Home Run Ball, Signed by Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, Billy Evans. This Last Home Run Ball was hit by Babe Ruth in Yankee Stadium on August 23, 1942 as part of a Baseball Exhibition.The Home run hit was pitched by Walter Johnson. Minimum Bid: $25,000 Sold for $86,250.00 with buyers premium. Click to see the auction lot. |
The ball is a Reach manufactured ball with Reach stamping. The ball has the Official American League Stamping with AL President William Harridge, Pres. The Reach Ball’s issue era is 1942-1945. This has been researched and substantiated by Mears Memorabilia Evaluation and Research Services. The ball has been deemed to be consistent with the date of Reach manufacture and that of the Exhibition event.
Further, the ball’s condition as been examined as being consistent with Exhibition event use and bruising. An impact area near the AL League stamping has bruising and appears in MEARS opinion to be the place where the ball was hit by the bat for the home run.Additional, scuffing marks from the ball hitting into the stands can also be seen.
With this Lot: A Letter of Authentication from MEARS about the ball and its condition will accompany the ball. The MEARS (LOA Cert. #303019)
THE SIGNATURES
AUTHENTICATED BY THE THREE LEADING COMPANIES IN THE HOBBY
The signatures on the ball have been fully Authenticated by James Spence Authentication, (Certificate #B13943) as Babe Ruth, Walter Johnson, and Billy Evans. Further the ball has been authenticated by PSA/DNA (Certificate #D84744). Global Authentication (GAI) (Certified GV157662). The signatures are consistent and considered genuine.The signatures are written in a Steel-tip Fountain pen in black ink.
THE PROVENANCE
In addition to actual newspaper accounts and book reference to the event; the Provenance includes a full eye witness accounting of the event; and of getting the Home Run ball after it went into the grandstand. This account is by the actual now 78 year person who got the ball in the stands that day, and who owned the ball for 53 years before giving it to his grandson. A detailed “Letter of Witness and Accounting” is included with the ball. This document is signed by Robert J. Balthazar, the eye witness and it is fully notarized.