This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/23/2015
In 1930, the New York Yankees finished the regular season with a record of 86-68, good enough for third place in the American League standings behind the champion Philadelphia Athletics and the runner-up Washington Senators. Just two seasons removed from winning back-to-back World Series championships, the Bronx Bombers would win it all once again just two years later in 1932. This lot features an exquisite 1930 New York Yankee team-signed baseball. The official National League (Heydler) baseball boasts 18 different player signatures in black ink including the autograph of one Babe Ruth smack dab on the sweet spot in 6-7/10 boldness. Additional Yankee Hall of Famers who signed the baseball include Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Waite Hoyt and Herb Pennock. Other notable signatures from the 1930 Bronx Bombers' squad are pitchers Hank Johnson, Roy Sherid and Lou McEvoy, as well as the rare autographs of Arndt Jorgens and Benny Bengough. A remarkable, well-preserved (shellacked) baseball from the league's most storied franchise.
The baseball comes courtesy of the daughter of former Philadelphia Phillies pitcher George Darrow, who pitched one season (1934) in the big leagues. He procured the ball during spring training in 1930 while playing for the San Antonio Indians. In the middle of a grueling series of exhibition games that started in St. Petersburg, Fla. and eventually wound up at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees played the San Antonio Indians in an exhibition game March 31, 1930. Sometime before, during or after that ballgame, Darrow was able to get this ball signed by 18 Yankees including five legendary Hall of Famers.
Includes Letter of Provenance from George Darrow's grandson. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.