When George Steinbrenner gave former Yankee Billy Martin the keys to manage the club during the 1975 season, the Yanks seemed to find their groove. The 1976 squad increased their previous season's win total from 91 to 97, taking the AL East for the first time since MLB formed divisions in '69. It certainly helped that the Bronx boys returned to their newly renovated Yankee Stadium after a two-year stint in Shea. They made the playoffs for the first time since 1964 and took the AL pennant before falling to the Big Red Machine in the Fall Classic, paving the way for a long-awaited World Championship the following year.
This '76 team ball is a great piece to commemorate the Yankees mid-70's turnaround. The evenly yellow toned (EX/EM) OAL (MacPhail) ball features 26 authentic signatures (no clubhouse) including Thurman Munson (5-6/10), Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Jim “Catfish” Hunter and Bob Lemon, as well as Billy Martin, Roy White, Elston Howard, Ron Guidry, Graig Nettles, Sparky Lyle, Chris Chambliss ('76 ALCS hero), Sandy Alomar Sr., Rick Dempsey, Dock Ellis, Willie Randolph, Oscar Gamble, Tippy Martinez, Ed Figueroa, Dineen, Healy, Howser, Mason, May, Stanley and Velez. The "1976" notation is in unknown hand. Black ink autographs average 5-6/10. Full LOA from PSA/DNA (AG02538).