Game Used Baseballs

[Shoeless Moe]

A very cool find. A baseball batted by Honus Wagner at the Polo Grounds.

There is a vintage typewriter typed label wrapped around the baseball it reads:

"To Junior Maclean, Here is a baseball that was batted into the grandstand of the Polo Grounds about 20 years ago by the famous Hans Wagner of the Pittsburgh Pirates. I will let you guess how it came into my possession. Your dad has told me that youare a regular baseball fan, so I am psssing this ball along to you with my best wishes" signed Fred W. Miller Sept. 16,1929

The original owner of this baseball which came from Cambridge, Mass. found 4antique baseballs while cleaning out the attic of the house partially built in the 1890's that belonged to their grandfather. Their Grandfather's brother was Hugh "Junior" Maclean. Junior Maclean was a die hard baseball fan. This info was given to me via the husband of his great niece.

Of the 4 baseballs found in that attic, 1 was blank, 2 were signed to Hugh "Junior" Maclean, and this one was typewritten to him. The other 3 baseballs were all vintage with autographs of major leaguers from the 1910's and 1920's. Which leaves me no doubt as to this balls authenticity. I have pictures of those other balls and being a buyer and seller of vintage balls I have zero doubt on this balls authenticity.


Sold for $1500 on Ebay in 2013

[Shoeless Moe]

I'm willing to say less then 1% of this board has heard of the Panama "Canal Zone League."

Yet 100% know 2 famous players that came out of Panama:

Rod Carew
Mariano Rivera

Well they really have nothing to do with this baseball, but they both played in Panama and this ball is from the grass roots of Panamanian Baseball.

The League was only around for 2 seasons, 1949-50 & 1950-51. It was a Winter League for some major league ballplayers and some Negro League players.

1947 Brooklyn Dodger and first Black pitcher in the Majors Dan Bankhead played in this Winter League. Tommy Lasorda also played there.

This is a Game Used Ball from the Championship Game of 1949-1950 season.

On the ball itself reads:

"Cristobal Mottas Canal Zone League Champions 1949-50"

Another panel reads:

"This ball caught by Bascelici (sp.) for last out in the final game for championship against Balboa"

Then looks to be signed by someone I can't make out and on another panel lists "Mgr Al Kuboski", another panel writing I can't make out.


Sold in the BST for fiddy bucks!

[Shoeless Moe]

Featuring BUCK WEAVER!

On July 26, 1915 the Chicago White Sox led by future Black Sox Buck Weaver, Happy Felsch, and Eddie Cicotte, along with 4 HOFers, Eddie Collins, Ray Schalk, Red Faber, and Big Ed Walsh on an off day traveling to play the Boston Red Sox stopped and played an Exhibition Game against minor league team from upstate New York, the Utica Utes.

Needless to say the Sox destroyed them 7-0 (see attached articles and box scores - thanks to fellow Net54-er Gary for getting those for me)

Just amazing to think this ball was most likely pitched by Eddie Cicotte and Ed Walsh, and perhaps tossed by Buck Weaver, Hap Felsch or hit by them, who knows, but fun to imagine the possibilities. And since foul balls were not allowed to be kept by fans back then and had to be tossed back into play, very good chance this was the ENTIRE game ball.

And its a ONL John Tener ball, those are rare in and of themself.

Comes with a Full MEARS LOA

Quote from Troy Kinunen of MEARS: "What a GREAT baseball!"


Sold at Goldin Auctions for $570 Buyer of this ball got a steal and I know they happen to be a NET54-er, Hi Murph!

https://goldinauctions.com/LotDetail...entoryid=28779

[Shoeless Moe]

AWESOME piece of history! How many people can say they have a baseball that was thrown by legendary Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander? 3rd All Time in Wins behind only Cy Young and Walter Johnson, tied with Christy Mathewson.

Black & red stitched Spalding Official National League John Heydler baseball which was used during the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-2 victory over St. Louis from April 28, 1929 at Sportsman's Park - Pittsburgh Pirates vs St Louis Cardinals - The game also featured HOFers Paul and Lloyd Waner, Pie Traynor for the Bucs, and Frankie Frisch, Jim Bottomley, Chick Hafey & Old Pete for the Cards. So quite possible numerous hall of famers threw, caught and or hit this ball, AMAZING!!!!

[Shoeless Moe]

How's that for a match-up of managers?!!!

2 HOFers going head to head. After looking into I never knew Walter Johnson was such a good manager, and mind you he had some pretty tough Yankee & Athletics teams to compete against, and he still put up a nice 529 Wins vs 432 Losses over 7 years as a manager. And while it pales to Connie Mack's 53 YEARS AS A MANAGER!!!!!! - that is just insane! 3731 Wins 3948 Losses, Johnson actually had a better win percentage : )

And he beat him on this August day in 1933:

Cleveland Indians 15
Philadelphia Athletic 4

Game used ball in which Cleveland HOFer Earl Averill (CF) hit for the CYCLE!!! Was this ball one of his hits? Could very well be, pretty neat.

Other HOFers in the game who may have hit, caught or tossed this ball were Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Cochrane.

The ball is a beauty with the somewhat rarer red and blue seams with the Presidential Stamping of William Harridge because they went to all Red stitching in 1934.

It comes is from the personal collection of pitcher Monte Pearson. Pearson was the winning pitcher in that game and inscribed the ball as seen.

The ball was given to a baseball coach in Madera, CA by Pearson's son. It is all explained in the LOA included.

Sold in the BST

[Bestdj777]

Love your finds. I was a bidder on that 1927 Yankees ball but had to bow out early. My two highlights are game used balls from game 6 and 7 of the 1952 World Series. My completely wild speculation with no supporting evidence whatsoever is that they were both Mantle home runs—most likely just foul balls or toss ups though.

[parker1b2]

Those baseballs are great!! I like collecting game used baseballs as well, unfortunately my collection is in storage due to having another child a few years ago and losing my memorabilia room to a nursery.

Some of the ones I can think of off top of my head are:

Phil Niekro 300th win and 250th win and 3rd Career win
Lee Smith 300 career save
Jim Abbott No Hitter
Opening day 1959 Red Sox vs Yankees from Bob Turley collection
Kevin Brown No Hitter

[Shoeless Moe]

Originally Posted by Bestdj777

Love your finds. I was a bidder on that 1927 Yankees ball but had to bow out early. My two highlights are game used balls from game 6 and 7 of the 1952 World Series. My completely wild speculation with no supporting evidence whatsoever is that they were both Mantle home runs—most likely just foul balls or toss ups though.

Chris I may have sold you one of those '52 WS Balls, they were nice, can you post pix of all panels?

Also I had a Ruth HR ball but it was from a barnstorming game and the signature was traced over, so the value got shot......still went for 2-3K at auction, but a Mantle or Ruth HR ball go for silly money these days.

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by Shoeless Moe

How's that for a match-up of managers?!!!

2 HOFers going head to head. After looking into I never knew Walter Johnson was such a good manager, and mind you he had some pretty tough Yankee & Athletics teams to compete against, and he still put up a nice 529 Wins vs 432 Losses over 7 years as a manager. And while it pales to Connie Mack's 53 YEARS AS A MANAGER!!!!!! - that is just insane! 3731 Wins 3948 Losses, Johnson actually had a better win percentage : )

And he beat him on this August day in 1933:

Cleveland Indians 15
Philadelphia Athletic 4

Game used ball in which Cleveland HOFer Earl Averill (CF) hit for the CYCLE!!! Was this ball one of his hits? Could very well be, pretty neat.

Other HOFers in the game who may have hit, caught or tossed this ball were Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Cochrane.

The ball is a beauty with the somewhat rarer red and blue seams with the Presidential Stamping of William Harridge because they went to all Red stitching in 1934.

It comes is from the personal collection of pitcher Monte Pearson. Pearson was the winning pitcher in that game and inscribed the ball as seen.

The ball was given to a baseball coach in Madera, CA by Pearson's son. It is all explained in the LOA included.

Sold in the BST

Oh wow! Just came across this thread. I have the lineup cards from this exact game!

[Topnotchsy]

In 1945, with a large percentage of the best players drafted, the Navy held a best-of-7 All-Star series. Players included Stan Musial, Ted Williams and many other stars.

This baseball was the final pitch of the clinching game. Signed by members of the team including Musial and one of the rarest signatures amongst MLBers of the 40's Wimpy Quinn. Came from the personal collection of catcher Bob Scheffing.

Inscribed: "Last ball pitched in Navy League "National (4) American (3) Oct. 6, 1945

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

Oh wow! Just came across this thread. I have the lineup cards from this exact game!

Unbelievable & very cool!

[packs]

Mike Trout career hit #410



Final pitch from Rube Walberg's victory against the Indians on June 15, 1926. Rube threw a 5 hit shut out that day: