(LOT 3)
"Fresh to the Hobby" 1933 Inaugural All-Star Game Signed Official A.L. Harridge Baseball w/13 American League All-Star Signatures incl. Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig & Jimmie Foxx - Full PSA/DNA LOA
One of the hobby's foremost collecting angles is assembling artifacts from the inaugural All-Star game played at Chicago's Comiskey Park on July 6, 1933. Of those sought-after collectibles, none could be more desirable and valuable than one of the few existing balls signed by a host of the legendary players who participated in that landmark event. Presented here is one of those scarce "fresh to the hobby" balls, previously owned by our consignor's grandfather, with the family ultimately deciding to have Memory Lane now offer it to the collecting community. The ball has been unquestionably held within the family since it was first given to our consignor's grandfather back on July 6, 1933.

He was an extremely loyal superintendent for Charles Comiskey, the legendary White Sox owner, who gave him the signed baseball as gratitude for doing an exceptional job of getting the ballpark ready for this inaugural game between the opposing league's finest stars. Of utmost significance is the fact that the two finest signatures just happen to be the black fountain pen autographs of Babe Ruth (on the customary sweet spot) and Lou Gehrig (east panel), with both of these iconic signatures presenting themselves in approximate 6/7 strength.

Additional autographs include the following: Lefty Grove/HOF (likewise on the East Panel w/Gehrig); West Panel: Jim Foxx/HOF, Ed Rommel, General Crowder, Sam West; South Panel: Joe Cronin/HOF; Tony Lazzeri/HOF; North Panel: Lefty Gomez/HOF; Al Simmons/HOF; Earl Averill/HOF, Jimmy Dykes. A total of 13 American League All-Stars (of which 9 are Hall of Famers) grace the multi-colored stitched horsehide sphere with the opposite sweet spot including a faint American League/Harridge stamp. While the ball emanates the typical toning expected for any 86-year old baseball, there are fortunately no obtrusive surface flaws, and the stitching still reflects its original tightly wound attributes. The significance of this museum worthy offering cannot be over-emphasized and to truly grasp its historical meaning, we find it necessary to provide a detailed account of the All-Star game's origin.

On July 6, 1933, baseball's greatest stars would assemble at Chicago's Comiskey Park to compete in our National Pastime's inaugural All-Star game that was an integral part of the 1933 Chicago's World Fair in celebration of the city's centennial. The true architect of this inspiring "mid-summer" classic was Arch Ward, the sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, who insisted a festive event including baseball's grandest players would boost the morale during the Great Depression, with a seemingly infinite number of Americans still experiencing the excruciating pain of our Nation's economic collapse. Dubbed "The Game of the Century", the players would be selected by both the fans (starting nine) and managers (additional nine players). Originally intended to be a one-time event, 55 major U.S. newspapers would post player ballots in their respective periodicals, and the proceeds from the game would be given to a charity representing "needy and disabled" MLB players.

Interestingly enough, a majority of baseball's greatest players were on the American League squad including Ruth, Gehrig, Foxx, Grove, Gomez, and Simmons, with the National League stars boasting Frisch, Klein and screwball specialist Carl Hubbell. The teams were managed by the arguable finest two manager's in baseball history, Connie Mack and John McGraw, and the game itself couldn't have included a finer Hollywood script for in the bottom of the third inning, the incomparable Babe Ruth would step to the plate and belt a game decisive two-run homer! Hall of Famer Lefty Gomez took credit for the 4-2 A.L. win with Redbirds southpaw Bill Hallahan taking the loss. As an immense testament for this monumental event, this extraordinary scripted baseball just happens to include the American League's finest aforementioned stars, most notably George Herman Babe Ruth whose inaugural mid-summer classic homer run stands as an epic "moment in time".

Indeed, the Bambino always had a propensity for belting renowned round-trippers; clouting the first homer at the new Yankee Stadium, belting three World Series dingers in games on two separate occasions, and only a year earlier, walloping his alleged "Called-Shot" home run into the deepest confines of Chicago's Wrigley Field! So, it should have come with little surprise that the Bambino would likewise place his resounding stamp on the baseball's maiden All-Star game. A simply breathtaking prize, it effectively turns back the clock to when our esteemed consignor's grandfather was handed this magnificent keepsake by his benevolent employer, legendary Cooperstown Inductee Charles Comiskey!

Note: An additional 1933 All-Star Game baseball signed by the two legendary managers John McGraw and Connie Mack is likewise presented as the next lot in the auction.

MIN BID $10,000
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