Addie Joss was a 6’ 3” right-hander who played nine seasons (1902 to 1910) for the Cleveland Bronchos, later known as the Naps, of the American League. A hard-throwing pitcher, he racked up a career record of 160-97 with 45 shutouts, an overall ERA of 1.89 and 920 K’s to his credit. In April of 1911, however, Joss became ill and died the same month due to tuberculous meningitis. He was just 31 years of age.
This lot offers a spectacular multi-signed, game-used baseball from the historic “Addie Joss Benefit Game” that was held on July 24, 1911. The purposes of the charity game, one of the most famous events of the dead ball era, was to raise funds for his widow. The game pitted the existing Cleveland Naps ball club against a team of American League All-Stars that included such hardball luminaries as Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Joe Jackson, Cy Young, Nap Lajoie, Sam Crawford, Tris Speaker and Frank Baker. The baseball was signed by the players on two side panels while the other side panels bear information about the game: “Benefit – All-Stars vs. Cleveland A.L. – Addie Joss Day 7-24-11” all in black ink.
The signatures of Cobb and Lajoie adorn the sweet spot, while Young has signed his name as “Denton Young.” But it’s the significance of Jackson’s signature on the ball that cannot be overstated. Jackson, who was illiterate, avoided signing his name on anything unless it was absolutely necessary. That’s why his signature today, when it can be found, is often on official legal documents. This baseball, however, was one such item that even Jackson could not avoid signing. In just his rookie season with Cleveland in 1911, Jackson obviously did not want to refuse to sign this important baseball in memory of his friend and deceased teammate, Joss. His signature appears at the top of one side panel, directly below the sweep spot normally bearing the ball label. Although his signature appears faint, it is unmistakably that of Jackson’s and as such is one of the earliest known examples of one of the most famous and elusive signatures in the baseball world. The remainder of the signatures mentioned are faint as well but are also readily discernible. Unfortunately, most of them are to some degree affected by the condition of the baseball which was, as noted by the period notations, an actual game-used baseball from the contest itself. As such, the ball is darkly toned with no remnants of the ball label visible. There are also numerous abrasions present, some of which may have occurred after the signing of the baseball, as a few notations and names are affected by them. A mounting hole from a long-ago display is evident on the sweet spot normally bearing the ball label. Regardless, this is a phenomenal and most historic signed baseball from one of the game’s most historic and celebrated All-Star events.
Includes Full LOA from PSA/DNA.