15. Walter Johnson (HOF) Single-Signed Baseball (JSA)
Reach Official American League (Barnard) baseball, dating to 1929-31, signed in steel tip fountain pen by the “Big Train.” Largely clean with some minor surface abrasions here and there, the baseball has been well-pre- served. The signature was applied in dark blue ink, somewhat faded but still quite attractive. Surface abrasions have marred a bit of the handwriting in Johnson’s last name, but the signature remains legible. Johnson single-signed baseballs are quite difficult, their profile elevated due to the exciting sale of a particularly strong example
for $315,000 in the spring of 2023. Since then, the value and scarcity of such artifacts have attracted considerable attention among hobbyists, with even faded signatures on unofficial base- balls reaching well into the five figures. The six-figure signature was also ap- plied on a Barnard baseball, a remark- able example in its original box. With single-signed baseballs of deadball era Hall of Famers in extremely high de- mand, players don’t get much better than Walter Johnson, perhaps the great- est pitcher of all time and certainly one of the most coveted autographs of his era. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication. MINIMUM BID: $1,500
16. Roberto Clemente (HOF) Single-Signed Baseball - Heavily Inscribed to Clyde King (JSA)
Clyde King was a baseball lifer, with a career that last- ed nearly 70 years, from his time as a Brooklyn Dodgers pitcher in the 1940s to his position in the New York Yankees’ front office that he held until his passing. His career also spanned the history of baseball’s integra- tion - he witnessed the debut of Jackie Robinson up close as a member of the 1947 Dodgers, he was the manager of the 1974 Atlanta Braves and saw Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth’s record. As the pitching coach of the Pittsburgh Pi- rates from 1965-67, he shared a clubhouse with the great Hall of Famer and humani- tarian Roberto Clemente, and for decades, this signed and inscribed baseball was one of his prized possessions.
it off with a personalized inscription on the east pan- el, which reads:
To Clyde
A very nice person and a Great Coach. Best Wishes
The signature is large, the inscription clear and legible, but both do exhib- it the kind of fading that comes with years of display. The ink application is uniform and clear, still worthy of display, likely a 5 or 6 on a ten scale. The prove- nance here is key, as is the sentiment of a baseball lifer retaining such a memento for de- cades, a player who was one of the legendary good guys, well-respected and universally admired, treasuring a signed baseball from a player with whom he crossed paths. Impec- cable provenance, a signed and thoughtfully inscribed baseball from one of the most important figures ever to play the game. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication. MINIMUM BID: $1,500
The ball is a Spalding official National League (Giles) baseball, in outstanding condition with some minor staining and marks here and there, simply a result of having been displayed for so long. Cle- mente applied a large, bold signature on the sweet spot, and capped
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