Early 1960s Willie McCovey Single-Signed Baseball-PSA DNA 8

Sold For:

$1,276

Year:

1960

Auction:

2006 Spring

Lot #:

576

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

Offered is a vintage Willie McCovey single-signed baseball that has been graded an overall "8" by PSA DNA. Single-signed baseballs have long been a staple of the autograph-collecting hobby; however, increased demand and the signing show "boom" of the late 1980s and 1990s has been responsible for practically inundating the field with recently signed post-career baseballs of many stars. For that reason, sophisticated autograph collectors, when given the opportunity, have recently been placing a significant premium on vintage single-signed balls signed during the player's active career, especially with reference to Hall of Fame players. Instead of acquiring one of the many post-career signed balls, collectors have shown a serious preference for ideal vintage signed balls, such as this spectacular example. This extremely rare McCovey single dates to his rookie era and is further distinguished by both the strength of the signature and the condition of the ball. The creamy toned official National League (Giles) ball has been beautifully signed by McCovey in blue ink on a side panel, with the signature contrasting extremely strongly against the clean surface of the ball. PSA DNA has graded the signature a "9" (Mint), while the ball itself has earned a grade of "7" (Nr/Mt), for an overall condition grade of NR-MT 8. This is an outstanding, ideal, and extremely rare Willie McCovey single-signed baseball signed during the 1960s, the only example of this caliber dating from early in McCovey's career that we have seen. LOAs from James Spence/JSA and Steve Grad, Mike Gutierrez & Zach Rullo/PSA DNA. Reserve $200. Estimate $400/$800. SOLD FOR $1,276.00