(LOT 1293)
Extremely Rare Set of 3 Ted Williams Autographed Official A.L. Baseballs w/Hand Painted "Fly-Fishing" Designs by Legendary Marine Artist Don Mayo – Full PSA/DNA LOA & Letter from Sue Mayo (Don's Wife)
Baseball enthusiasts are all too familiar with Ted Williams' unparalleled legacy as our National Pastime's greatest all-time hitter as well as his heroism in two wars in which he shot down an imposing 16 enemy aircraft! Indeed, the "Splendid Splinter" stands tall as the embodiment of a National hero, with both his baseball and war efforts "echoing for eternity". What many people do not realize is that this magnificent individual is also a member of the "Fly Fisherman" Hall of Fame, with his devout passion for this ultra-popular craft leading to this distinguished honor. It also lends us to ask this following question: Is there ANYTHING the legendary Williams could NOT do with the utmost precision? The three extremely eclectic Ted Williams signed Official A.L. Bobby Brown baseballs presented here are the "perfect" link to his passionate fly-fishing craft for each horsehide sphere includes an artistic "fly-fishing" design hand painted on one of the side panels.

Their lineage is traced back to legendary Waterfowl & Marine artist Don Mayo whose fly-fishing career commenced by created various "fly-like" designs for fishermen to place on the end of their lines as bait for the rather sophisticated craft of catching trout in fresh water streams. After Don Mayo started placing ads in fly-fishing magazines to sell his popular product, a particular gentleman started buying up all of his "fly" designs, with this individual none other than the exalted Ted Williams. These two giants at their craft would innocently meet at a fly-fishing show, and it was then that Williams would introduce himself to Mr. Mayo as the man who was gobbling up his fly-fishing bait at an alarming rate. Becoming good friends, Mr. Mayo would eventually take 12 Official A.L. baseballs and paint three different "fly-fishing" designs on the balls, thus creating four separate sets of three baseballs, with each of the three balls portraying their own separate hand-painted and extremely colorful "fly" designs.

Of course, Don Mayo was not done for the next time he met up with Ted Williams, he asked Ted if he could sign all 12 balls, with Williams graciously executing the request of his now extremely close friend. One of the four sets of three balls would be gifted to Williams where it was placed in his museum, with the other three sets eventually sold by his widow Sue Mayo after Don had sadly passed away. Our esteemed consignor just happened to be one of the fortunate collectors who captured one of the sets of three hand-painted baseballs, leading to this splendid offering. As the scans clearly exhibit, all three bright white balls are signed by Ted Williams in ball point pen (two on the side panels & the other on the sweet spot) with the richly hued fly-fishing designs all retaining a majority of their original craftmanship.

Included with the baseballs is a copy of Sue Mayo's letter to a previous buyer detailing the historical significance of the baseballs as well as a single-page document reflecting the history of the iconic Maine Artists Don Mayo (scans of these documents can be viewed on the Memory Lane Website). An absolutely spectacular offering, it conjures up memories of how "Teddy Ballgame" could accomplish virtually anything with the foremost skill sets; whether it was fighting for America's freedom, catching fresh-water trout or smacking baseball's better than anyone who ever graced an MLB diamond!

MIN BID $900
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