This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/11/2018
One of the magical things about Induction Weekend in Cooperstown is how the excitement of the event can turn even the most hardened veteran of the game into an autograph-seeking kid again. That’s just what happened to Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame catcher and manager Gabby Hartnett when he attended his induction weekend in 1955.
During the annual HOF exhibition game between the Milwaukee Braves and Boston Red Sox, Hartnett had the opportunity to have the game’s greatest hitter, Ted Williams, sign a ball for him along with Red Sox teammate Jimmy Piersall. Ted signed the sweet spot in 7/10 blue ballpoint and Piersall signed the panel above on this Spalding ONL Ford C. Frick ball brought to Cooperstown by Hartnett with the sole purpose of acquiring autographs. Hartnett added his signature on the panel below Williams in 6-7/10 black pen. According to Gabby Hartnett’s nephew (our consignor) who attended the weekend festivities, the ball was signed by both BoSox players right there on the mound of Doubleday Field that summer afternoon in 1955 as they came in from their respective outfield positions.
This Cooperstown collection also includes the scorecard from the Braves-Red Sox exhibition game and a program with the schedule of events for the July 25, 1955, induction ceremony. The clean ball has taken on just a light tone with age and the signatures are crisp and legible on the creamy white leather. The scorecard shows medium wear with surface and edge wear and a horizontal crease. The program card also shows edge wear and has a horizontal crease. A unique group obtained and kept by one of that year’s Hall of Fame inductees
Includes letter of provenance from Hartnett's nephew, Frank Parnell. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.