This lot features two team balls from the late 1950's and early 1960's. The first is a 1961 Dodgers ONL (Giles) ball with 28 autographs including four Hall of Famers: Koufax, Snider, Alston (SS) and Durocher (SS). Others include Hodges, Podres, Moon, Roseboro, Gilliam, Burges, Perranoski, Sherry, etc. Autographs come in 7/10 blue ballpoint while the ball exhibits heavy soiling (may be game-used) and light chipping/scuffing.
The OAL (Harridge) ball is notated "May 7, 1959 CAMPANELLA NIGHT" on the sweet spot and appears to have been used in a memorable exhibition game between the Yanks and Dodgers that evening at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A total of 93,193 adoring fans showed up to pay their respects to Campy, who was left paralyzed his tragic car accident in early 1958. $60,000 of the gate receipts went towards Roy's medical expenses. The Yankees' 6-2 victory--they had 13 hits off Koufax, Erskine and Snyder--was lost in the magic of the special tribute for the beloved backstop. HOFers present are Whitey Ford and Enos Slaughter (SS). Others are Bauer, Shantz, Houk, Duren, Richardson, Turner, Crosetti, Skowron, Carey, Boyer, Maas and Throneberry. Autographs range 6-8/10 blue ballpoint, while the ball is heavily soiled likely from action during the exhibition game.
Both balls hail from the son of George Vico, former Tigers 1B and longtime minor-leaguer who worked on the Dodgers staff for a bit as well. Both balls pre-certified by Beckett.
More about "Roy Campanella Night": https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/may-7-1959-roy-campanella-night