On April 18, 1923, Yankee Stadium opened for the first time to the largest crowd that had ever watched a baseball game. The New York Times reported 74,200 paying customers (some of whom must have been standing in every available aisle, given that the stadium had about 64,000 seats), along with 25,000 more who were turned away at the gates by the New York City Police and Fire Departments. In that first game, Babe Ruth ushered in the Yankee's era of dominance with a three-run home run to lead the Yankees to a 4-1 win over the Red Sox. Ruth's home run would prove to be an omen for the rest of the season which saw the Yankees capture their first World Championship.
This Reach OAL (Johnson) ball holds 22 signatures from the 1923 World Champion New York Yankees. Yankee players include Babe Ruth on the bottom of the south panel, and fellow Hall of Famers Herb Pennock, Waite Hoyt and Miller Huggins. Additional signatures include Bennie Bengough, Everett Scott, Sam Jones, Carl Mays, Hinky Haines, Mike McNally, Joe Bush, Harvey Hendrick, Wally Schang, Joe Dugan, Joe Bush, Mike Gazella, Whitey Witt, George Pipgras, Oscar Roettger, Bob Shawkey and Wally Pipp. Even A.A. "Doc" Woods, who played shortstop briefly with the A's in '23 and later became the Yankees trainer, is present. The slightly soiled ball is in excellent condition overall with signatures averaging about 5-6/10. Void of any clubhouse signatures, this ball is a cornerstone for any collection of elite Yankees artifacts. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.