1923 World Series Game - Ball Signed By Ruth, Huggins, McGraw. PSA Certified
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:5398217 | Team: New York Yankees |
There is nothing like this item to showcase the history of baseball and the New York Yankees.
The 1923 World Series saw Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees beat the New York Giants for the Yankees' first World Series win and the start of a dynasty of 27 World Series championships. From that first Yankees' World Series win comes this one-of-a-kind item. The ball was game-used in the 1923 World Series that started it all. And was signed at that time by Babe Ru...th (HoF), Miller Huggins(HoF), John McGraw(HoF), Pat Moran, and Nick Altrock. Each signature has been PSA authenticated and the Huggins and McGraw autographs have been PSA graded as a 10 (!) for Huggins and a 6 for McGraw. The ball was mounted on a presentation trophy given by Christy Walsh, which has also been PSA authenticated.
Babe Ruth needs no introduction. While the Ruth signature as a whole is not great, the Ruth portion is extremely nice and presents well on the trophy or standing alone. Regardless, this ball and its exclusive status stands out, not for just the signatures, but for what it represents in baseball and Yankee history. This ball was used in the World Series that cemented the names Babe Ruth and Yankees into baseball history and can definitively be tied to Ruth himself before he became the legend we all know, and started the Yankees we all know. This unique piece will become the cornerstone of somebody's collection.
Christy Walsh was the first modern sports agent and is largely responsible for creating much of the Ruth mystique for the benefit of his biggest client. In his quest to reshape sports PR, Walsh began creating "presentation trophies" of to further promote his clients' accomplishments and, to my knowledge, this is the first of its kind that was continued through later Yankee championships by Walsh (though not with game-used balls) and further and continued by Walsh's son up to at least the 1950's with Yankees' presentation watches. The presentation trophy platform for this unprecedented part of baseball history is wood and reads on the front "Ball used in World Series 1923 Giants vs Yankees" and on the top reads "Compliments of CHRISTY WALSH" on one side and "WM. B. CRAIG" on the other side. The exact identity of the original "WM. B. CRAIG" recipient has not been definitively confirmed, but it appears likely that it is former Alabama Congressional representative William B. Craig who stated, "let's laugh the Ku Klux Klan out of America" and "launched the drive to keep the Klan out of Selma in 1923."
Miller Huggins was the manager of the '23 Yankees and according to Babe Ruth himself, "was the only man who knew how to keep me in line." Huggins managed the Yankees until his death until 1929 and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also the very first on the monuments in center-field at Yankee Stadium that would later become Monument Park. Huggins untimely death and pristine 10 signature adds to the uniqueness of the piece.
John McGraw needs little introduction, but is also a member of the Hall of Fame and was the manager of the losing New York Giants during the 1923 World Series.
Why the five gentlemen who autographed the ball signed it took some researching, but they all appear to have been clients or acquaintances of Walsh and, on top of the PSA certification, the provenance of this amazing piece is further shown by a photograph from the 1923 World Series in which all five men and Walsh were photographed during game 4 of the 1923 World Series. The photo is not part of the sale and is owned by Getty Images and only shown to illustrate why this item exists.
Overall, this ball is a one-of-a-kind piece of Yankees and baseball history, The 1923 World Series introduced the world to the Yankees and the dynasty the team would become. This ball was held by Babe Ruth and other legends while creating that legacy, but before even the first World Series championship was secured and was used in the World Series that started it all. The ball comes with both PSA certifications and the presentation trophy itself. The ball screws into the trophy and can easily be removed for storage or display and also easily re-secured to the presentation trophy whenever desired. No Yankee or baseball collection can ever be complete without this ball and its history.
About the Seller: This is a new eBay account. However, it is a continuation of a lifetime of collecting in my family. My father (and my brothers and I) have been pursuing, selling, and buying (mostly buying to the chagrin of my mother) sports memorabilia for many, many years. This was all done through the eBay account Wheels1313, which was run by my father, who was the greatest man I have ever known. Unfortunately he passed away not too long ago and we decided to discontinue the use of the account due to terms and conditions of the site. My brothers and I are mostly keeping the collection intact and continuing to add to it, but some items are being sold to expand the collection into our own unique collecting interests.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the item. Thank you and happy bidding.
References and Sources:
Christy Walsh: https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/10/08/babe-ruth-book-excerpt-jane-leavy-christy-walsh-celebrity-athletes http://www.booksonbaseball.com/2010/08/christy-walsh-baseballs-first-agent/
William B. Craig Selma: A Bicentennial History, Alston Hicks, (Alabama University Press, 2017)(p. 181)
Miller Huggins: Wheeler, Lonnie (June 3, 2003). "Huggins cornerstone to Yankees". The Cincinnati Post. https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/huggins-miller
Photo: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/fourth-game-1923-world-series-photo-shows-left-to-right-news-photo/515129096
Shipped with USPS FR Medium Box, Secured, Signature Required, and Insured.
The 1923 World Series saw Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees beat the New York Giants for the Yankees' first World Series win and the start of a dynasty of 27 World Series championships. From that first Yankees' World Series win comes this one-of-a-kind item. The ball was game-used in the 1923 World Series that started it all. And was signed at that time by Babe Ru...th (HoF), Miller Huggins(HoF), John McGraw(HoF), Pat Moran, and Nick Altrock. Each signature has been PSA authenticated and the Huggins and McGraw autographs have been PSA graded as a 10 (!) for Huggins and a 6 for McGraw. The ball was mounted on a presentation trophy given by Christy Walsh, which has also been PSA authenticated.
Babe Ruth needs no introduction. While the Ruth signature as a whole is not great, the Ruth portion is extremely nice and presents well on the trophy or standing alone. Regardless, this ball and its exclusive status stands out, not for just the signatures, but for what it represents in baseball and Yankee history. This ball was used in the World Series that cemented the names Babe Ruth and Yankees into baseball history and can definitively be tied to Ruth himself before he became the legend we all know, and started the Yankees we all know. This unique piece will become the cornerstone of somebody's collection.
Christy Walsh was the first modern sports agent and is largely responsible for creating much of the Ruth mystique for the benefit of his biggest client. In his quest to reshape sports PR, Walsh began creating "presentation trophies" of to further promote his clients' accomplishments and, to my knowledge, this is the first of its kind that was continued through later Yankee championships by Walsh (though not with game-used balls) and further and continued by Walsh's son up to at least the 1950's with Yankees' presentation watches. The presentation trophy platform for this unprecedented part of baseball history is wood and reads on the front "Ball used in World Series 1923 Giants vs Yankees" and on the top reads "Compliments of CHRISTY WALSH" on one side and "WM. B. CRAIG" on the other side. The exact identity of the original "WM. B. CRAIG" recipient has not been definitively confirmed, but it appears likely that it is former Alabama Congressional representative William B. Craig who stated, "let's laugh the Ku Klux Klan out of America" and "launched the drive to keep the Klan out of Selma in 1923."
Miller Huggins was the manager of the '23 Yankees and according to Babe Ruth himself, "was the only man who knew how to keep me in line." Huggins managed the Yankees until his death until 1929 and is a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was also the very first on the monuments in center-field at Yankee Stadium that would later become Monument Park. Huggins untimely death and pristine 10 signature adds to the uniqueness of the piece.
John McGraw needs little introduction, but is also a member of the Hall of Fame and was the manager of the losing New York Giants during the 1923 World Series.
Why the five gentlemen who autographed the ball signed it took some researching, but they all appear to have been clients or acquaintances of Walsh and, on top of the PSA certification, the provenance of this amazing piece is further shown by a photograph from the 1923 World Series in which all five men and Walsh were photographed during game 4 of the 1923 World Series. The photo is not part of the sale and is owned by Getty Images and only shown to illustrate why this item exists.
Overall, this ball is a one-of-a-kind piece of Yankees and baseball history, The 1923 World Series introduced the world to the Yankees and the dynasty the team would become. This ball was held by Babe Ruth and other legends while creating that legacy, but before even the first World Series championship was secured and was used in the World Series that started it all. The ball comes with both PSA certifications and the presentation trophy itself. The ball screws into the trophy and can easily be removed for storage or display and also easily re-secured to the presentation trophy whenever desired. No Yankee or baseball collection can ever be complete without this ball and its history.
About the Seller: This is a new eBay account. However, it is a continuation of a lifetime of collecting in my family. My father (and my brothers and I) have been pursuing, selling, and buying (mostly buying to the chagrin of my mother) sports memorabilia for many, many years. This was all done through the eBay account Wheels1313, which was run by my father, who was the greatest man I have ever known. Unfortunately he passed away not too long ago and we decided to discontinue the use of the account due to terms and conditions of the site. My brothers and I are mostly keeping the collection intact and continuing to add to it, but some items are being sold to expand the collection into our own unique collecting interests.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions about the item. Thank you and happy bidding.
References and Sources:
Christy Walsh: https://www.si.com/mlb/2018/10/08/babe-ruth-book-excerpt-jane-leavy-christy-walsh-celebrity-athletes http://www.booksonbaseball.com/2010/08/christy-walsh-baseballs-first-agent/
William B. Craig Selma: A Bicentennial History, Alston Hicks, (Alabama University Press, 2017)(p. 181)
Miller Huggins: Wheeler, Lonnie (June 3, 2003). "Huggins cornerstone to Yankees". The Cincinnati Post. https://baseballhall.org/hall-of-famers/huggins-miller
Photo: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/fourth-game-1923-world-series-photo-shows-left-to-right-news-photo/515129096
Shipped with USPS FR Medium Box, Secured, Signature Required, and Insured.
