1938 and 1940 New York Yankees Team-Signed Balls - One with Lou Gehrig

Sold For:

$1,528

Year:

1938

Auction:

2009 Spring

Lot #:

979

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

This pair of two New York Yankees team-signed balls, dating from 1938 and 1940, respectively, has a unique provenance. Both were gifts from Fred Logan, a New York Yankees clubhouse attendant, during spring training of each respective season. Ideally, each has been personalized by Logan to our consignor, "Gloria," whose family lived in Florida at the time. Logan and a number of Yankee players were good friends with our consignor's father. When Gloria personally brought these balls to our office, she vividly recalled that many players, including Babe Ruth, visited the family's home during spring training (she even showed us a picture of her mother posing with Babe Ruth and Dutch Ruether outside their home in 1927). These balls have been in her personal possession since she was given them by Fred Logan and they have not seen the light of day for the past sixty-nine years. 1) Official American League (Harridge) ball signed in black ink by twenty-eight members of the 1938 World Champion New York Yankees. The signature of legendary Yankees Captain Lou Gehrig, who was playing in his final full season in 1938, graces the sweet spot and grades "5/6." The remaining twenty-seven signatures on the ball are those of McCarthy (Mgr., clubhouse), Dickey, Ruffing, Gomez (clubhouse), Pearson, Hoag, Glenn, Sundra, Schreiber (coach), Chandler, Selkirk (on ball label), Murphy, Crosetti, Beggs, Donald, Andrews, Wicker, Hadley, Gordon, Stine, Jorgens, Dahlgren, Rolfe, Powell, Vance, Jack Fallon (possibly a team executive), and one other individual (illegible). Signatures range in grade from "2" to "6," averaging "4/5." The black-ink inscription "From F. Logan- To Gloria 1938" appears on the sweet spot directly above Lou Gehrig's signature. All of the manufacturer's stampings are bold and legible, and the ball is in Excellent condition. 2) Reach "Official League" ball signed in black fountain pen by the following thirty-three members of the 1940 New York Yankees: DiMaggio, McCarthy (Mgr.), Dickey, Gomez, Ruffing, Breuer, Keller, Gordon, Dahlgren, Henrich, Grissom, Selkirk (on ball label), Crosetti, Knickerbocker, Russo, Jorgens, Blair, Schreiber, Hildebrand, Donald, Sundra, Bonham, Sturm, Rolfe, Rosar, Murphy, Chandler, Stanceu, Hadley, Pearson, Reis, Washburn, and one other (illegible). The ball has been inscribed "To Gloria from F. Logan - 1940" in black ink across the sweet spot. Since this ball was signed in spring training it includes six players who did not make the official roster that season: Buddy Blair, Johnny Sturm, Art Jorgens, Tommy Reis, Charley Stanceu, and George Washburn. Signatures range in grade from "4" to "8," averaging "6." All of the manufacturer's stampings are bold and legible, and the ball is in Excellent condition. LOA from James Spence/JSA. Total: 2 balls. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$1,500. SOLD FOR $1,528