This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/23/2019
His name was Francesco Stephano (anglicized to Frank Stephen) Pezzolo, but baseball people called him Ping Bodie; Ping for the way the ball sounded when it came off his 52-ounce bat, and Bodie for a town in California where he once lived. Ping Bodie was one of the first Italian ballplayers to make it to the majors. Ed Abbaticchio, probably the first major leaguer of Italian-American descent, and Bodie helped pave the way for the DiMaggio brothers and others like Frankie Crosetti, Tony Lazzeri and Phil Rizzuto. Bodie played 9 seasons in the majors from 1911-21 and many more in the PCL but was known just as much for his off-field hi-jinks and colorful personality. He also roomed with Babe Ruth for a time during Ruth’s first season with the Yankees.
Offered here is Ping Bodie's official 1920 New York Yankees player's contract. The contract is dated April 12, 1920 and is signed by Bodie, and execs Ban Johnson and Jacob Ruppert. It exhibits light wear throughout with no major flaws. Autographs pre-certified by PSA/DNA.