Tigers shortstop Neil Berry had a front row seat for one of the most infamous games in MLB history: the Eddie Gaedel game. Bill Veeck Jr., GM of the hapless St. Louis Browns, tried everything in the book to attract fans to watch his last-place ball club. When conventional promotional ideas failed, Veeck thought outside the box and came up with the event that made him one of baseball’s most controversial executive. Between games of the Browns' August 19, 1951 doubleheader against Detroit, Veeck hired professional actor/mascot and little-person Eddie Gaedel to pop out of a large birthday cake to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the American League.
Unbeknownst to the Tigers, Gaedel had been secretly granted a real American League player’s contract and issued a Browns uniform carrying the number “1/8” on the back. To everyone’s surprise, Gaedel was inserted as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the first inning. Facing Tigers pitcher Bob Cain, Gaedel presented the smallest strike zone in big league history. Laughing uncontrollably, Cain fired four straight balls to walk Gaedel, who trotted down to first to the roar of the crowd. He was immediately taken out for a pinch runner, and after the game his contract was voided by the Commissioner’s office; thus, ending Gaedel’s baseball career after one plate appearance.
Noting the significance of the game, Tigers shortstop Neil Berry pocketed one of the balls used during that historical game. In his included letter of provenance, Berry wrote, “I saved it because I didn’t think I’d see another midget play a Major League game ever again and I was right." Berry kept the ball in a box for many decades before taking it out and inscribing its significance in blue ballpoint for posterity. The OAL (Harridge) ball remains in very good condition with just light toning and a few scuffs from use. The signature and inscription, added when Berry was 91 years of age, are clear and crisp. A very unique baseball artifact from wild man Bill Veeck’s most wacky promotion.
Includes letter from Neil Berry. PSA/DNA has deemed the signature and inscription inconclusive based on a lack of autograph records and writing samples from Berry in the system.