The Yankees’ All-Star core of Ruth, Gehrig, Combs, Hoyt, Pennock, Lazzeri and Pipgras were aging, which gave way to a new staple of solid players like Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing, Bill Dickey and Ben Chapman who were all finding their places to continue one of baseball’s all-time great dynasties. In 1930, however, the Yankees had a bit of an off-year with just 86 wins to place third in the AL behind Connie Mack's pennant-winning Athletics. Ruth and Gehrig hit 90 home runs between them, but Chapman was the only other on the roster to net double-digit dingers.
This heavily aged Official American League (Barnard) ball contains 10 signatures from the 1930 Yankees, seven of whom are enshrined in the Hall of Fame. As usual, Babe Ruth (5-6/10) adorns the sweet spot, with Lou Gehrig (4/10) on an adjacent panel. Dickey, Combs, Lazzeri, Pennock and Ruffing round out the Cooperstown group. The other three are manager Bob Shawkey, Bennie Bengough and Jimmie Reese. Ball is GD/VG with dark toning/soiling and some severe white scuffs, one unfortunatly over the Iron Horse's autograph. A fairly clean and perfectly legible Ruth on the sweet spot certainly makes up for it. Black steel-tip ink autographs average 4-5/10 ioverall. Full LOA from JSA (X25816).