(LOT 39)
Arguably the Finest 1955 N.Y. Yankees Team Signed Baseball (PSA Mint 9) w/24 Signatures Incl. Mantle, Berra, Ford, Rizzuto, Martin & Howard – Extraordinary PSA/DNA "Mint 9" Overall Grade w/NO Clubhouse Signatures!
The New York Yankees proudly stand as our National Pastime's greatest dynasty, having claimed 40 American League pennants and 27 World Series Championships in their 117-year history that commenced in 1903. Their domination over such an extended period of time is an unmatched feat in any sport, let alone baseball, and the seemingly infinite list of stars who donned their legendary home pinstripe uniforms is incredible. That illustrious list includes immortals such as Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, Berra, Jeter, Ford, and so many more of baseball's renowned Cooperstown Inductees. As a bona-fide testament for their amazing history, one of the most imposing Yankee collectibles is a team-signed baseball from one of their A.L. Pennant and/or Championship seasons. That said, presented here is an extraordinary 1955 New York Yankees signed "Official Little League" baseball that has received the hallowed PSA "Mint 9" assessment!

Unfathomable to say the least, is a near-impossible task to fine pre-1960 team signed balls sporting an overall "Mint 9" grade, let alone one portraying 24 signatures of the mighty 1995 Yankees squad. All of the signatures are period scripted, with no clubhouse autographs and the four Hall of Famers including the iconic Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Phil "The Scooter" Rizzuto. PSA has graded the imposing signatures a well-merited "Mint 9" and the non-official baseball a "NM/MT 8", providing a well-deserved "half grade" overall bump due to the absolutely breathtaking aesthetics. The position of all 24 bold blue-penned signatures is provided at the end of this description, with the bright white horsehide sphere revealing no glaring flaws, clean black factory-issued stamps, and its original tightly wound red stitching. One of the great New York Yankees teams, the '55 club avenged their previous year's 2nd place finish to Cleveland by re-capturing the A.L.in 1955 via their imposing 96-58 record (.623 winning percentage), besting the 2nd place Indians by 3 games.

Although they would lose the Fall Classic to Brooklyn in a tightly contested 7-game series, the Yankees had once again re-established themselves as the American League "team to beat" and would move on to win three more A.L. Pennants and two World Championships in the '50's. Atypically and unlike the myriad of lightly scripted vintage team signed balls, this amazing offering offers bold signatures for virtually all 24 players (w/the exception of a light Frank Leja signature). Some of the foremost highlights are the period-style Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford signatures (Ford actually signed "Ed Ford") as well as the inclusion of a "rookie" Elston Howard script, with Howard residing as the New York Yankees inaugural African-American player. Some of the notable Non-Hall of Famer autographs include the legendary Billy Martin, Bob Turley, Joe Collins, Bobby Byrne, Hank Bauer and Gil McDougald. Arguably the finest 1955 Yankees team signed ball in existence, we have never seen another one graded a PSA "Mint 9", with its remarkable array of signatures and dazzling white horsehide surface meriting this museum worthy artifact the highest hobby accolades! For your convenience, a complete list of the signatures and their designated position on this grand offering is listed as follows:

SWEET SPOT: Yogi Berra/HOF, Phil Rizzuto/HOF; WEST PANEL: Hank Bauer, Bob Grim, Eddie Robinson, Irv Noren; EAST PANEL: Gil McDougald, Tom Carroll, Tommy Byrne, Frank Leja; NORTH PANEL: Jim Konstanty, Andy Carey, Johnny Kucks, Joe Coleman, Ed "Whitey" Ford/HOF, Joe Collins; SOUTH PANEL: Bob Turley, Elston Howard, Tom Morgan, Mickey Mantle/HOF, Charlie Silvera, Billy Martin, Rip Coleman, Bob Weisler

MIN BID $1,250
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