This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/21/2017
This is a group of three signed balls obtained by former Philadelphia A’s pitcher Lou Brissie. A promising pitcher before the war, Brissie suffered a terrible leg wound in WWII. After begging his doctor not to amputate his leg, Brissie began a long rehabilitation that culminated with his winning 37 games for the A’s from 1947-1951. The first ball in this lot is signed by three members of the 1929-31 Philadelphia A’s - what may have been the greatest ball club of all-time. Right on the sweet spot their ace Lefty Grove. This southpaw was in a league all his own and won an astounding 79 games during those three seasons. 1929 leader in slugging percentage, Jimmy Dykes, signed the opposite sweet spot and pitcher Rube Walberg, who held batters to a 1.93 ERA in five World Series appearances, has signed a side panel. The ball is a well used anonymous brand with no markings. The ball was signed after the ball was retied from use and the black ball point signatures are bold and crisp.
Two team-signed balls are also included. The first is the 1948 A’s team and with Connie Mack on the sweet spot. Stand outs include Phil Marchildon, Lou Brissie, Sam Chapman, Elmer Valo and Eddie Joost. Signed in blue and red ink, this is one of the more colorful team signed balls you’ll ever find. The Reach Official American League ball shows light toning and the signatures are bold and bright on the cream colored surface. The second team ball is of the 1951 club. This ball features Mack on the sweet spot (although he turned the reigns over to Jimmy Dykes after the ’50 season). Notables on this ball include Ferris Fain, Bobby Shantz and Jimmy Dykes. The ball has been signed in blue/green ink and the ball is a Reach Official American League ball that shows medium toning.
The balls come from the collection of former A’s pitcher Lou Brissie and include an LOA from the Brissie family. Autographs pre-certified by PSA/DNA.