The 1937 World Series was a re-match of the previous year’s Series. Both the Yankees and Giant were more or less evenly matched: The Yanks had Gehrig, DiMaggio and Dickey while the Giants countered with Ott, Terry and Danning. For pitching the Yanks put forward Gomez and Ruffing while the Giants fired back with Hubbell, Shoemaker and Melton. But, just like 1936, the Yankees proved the stronger club. The Giants downfall was a failure to hit constantly and an unending series of errors in the field that must have made John McGraw roll over in his grave. The Yankees played errorless ball and outscored the Giants 28 to 12.
During the Series a Giants player had his opponents sign a ball for him. Perhaps not wanting to be restrained by the surface area of a baseball, the player passed around a new Spalding Official “Duro-Seam” Soft Ball which was considerably larger and had no exposed seams. 25 members of the World Champion Yankees signed this softball including Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Tony Lazzeri, Lefty Gomez, Bill Dickey, Earle Combs and Red Ruffing plus Jake Powell, Red Rolfe, Bump Hadley, George Selkirk, Frank Makosky, Tom Henrich, Don Heffner, Frank Crosetti, Kemp Wicker, Monte Pearson, Myril Hoag, Johnny Murphy, Art Jorgens, Jack Saltzgaver, Ivy Andrews and coaches John Schulte, Art Fletcher. As is common with 1930's signed balls, the Joe McCarthy is a clubhouse signature. An unknown hand has written “1937” on the ball. The signatures are in black fountain pen which has faded to a brown over time. The softball remains in great condition with even toning from age throughout. The ball is housed in its original Spalding box which has had its top removed.
Full LOA from PSA/DNA. Sourced from the estate of a former MLB player whose identity will remain anonymous.