In 1947, the defending World Champion Cardinals found themselves heavily entrenched in a war for the pennant with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The two teams had fought to a draw the previous year, necessitating the first one-game playoff in league history. Though the Cards had most of their ’46 team in place including stars Stan Musial, Whitey Kurowski and Red Schoendienst, many players such as Enos Slaughter, Terry Moore and Harry Brecheen were past their prime and the team finished in second to Brooklyn.
Each of these two Spalding Official National League balls have been signed by three Hall of Famers: Stan Musial, Joe Medwick, Enos Slaughter and Red Schoendienst plus Marty Marion, Ron Northey, Dick Sisler, Harry Brecheen, Tony Kaufmann, Ken Burkhart, Jim Hearn, Ted Wilks, Joe Garagiola, Al Brazle, Jerry Staley, Erv Dusak, George Munger, Whitey Kurowski, Jeff Cross, Del Wilber, Bernie Creger, Del Rice, Terry Moore, Murry Dickson, Chuck Diering, Nippy Jones, Howie Pollet, and manager Eddie Dyer. The date “1947” has been hand written on one of the balls, while the other has a hole drilled in one side for mounting purposes.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA (autos.). Letter of provenance from family of St. Louis Cardinals team dentist.