1969 Dizzy Dean Single-Signed Ball with Unique Provenance

Official National League (Giles) ball signed by Hall of Fame pitcher Dizzy Dean on a side panel. Dean has signed the ball in black ink, with the signature grading "7." In Near Mint to Mint condition with extremely bold manufacturer's stampings. This is an outstanding Dizzy Dean single-signed ball and one that is especially notable for its unique provenance: Dean signed this ball personally for our consignor back in 1969, at the opening of The Dizzy Dean Museum in Wiggins, Mississippi. (Dean lived in Mississippi for nearly his entire life.) In his accompanying two-page handwritten letter, he chronicles their meeting in great detail. In part: "While stationed at Keesler AFB in 1969, I learned that the town of Wiggins, MS was going to dedicate a museum to honor Dizzy Dean. In spite of very heavy thunderstorms the morning of the dedication, my wife and I drove to Wiggins for the ceremony. When we arrived, about an hour before the ceremony, the rain had ended. However, much to our surprise, there were no people at the museum. After waiting in the parking lot we saw a big white Cadillac convertible pull into the lot. The driver of the car was Dizzy Dean himself. I approached him with the baseball and asked him if he would sign it for me. 'Sure Pardner' was his response...Due to the thunderstorm, many people did not make it to Wiggins, including Dizzy's old friend Roy Acuff and his band who were to play at the ceremony. It also seemed that the local newspaper reporter failed to show up as well. After the ceremony was over, I was approached by a man from the chamber of commerce who was on the platform. He noticed that I was the only person with a good camera. He asked if I would send him a copy if I had any good pictures...several years later, I passed through Mississippi while on vacation with my family. We stopped at the museum, and much to my delight, there was my picture hanging on the wall - the only photo of the ceremony." In his postscript he writes that Dean "was dressed in a white country and western suit, with white boots and a white Stetson hat. Just what I had expected him to look like in person." This is a simply outstanding Dean single-signed ball, signed by "Diz" on his day of honor in 1969. LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $300. Estimate $500/$1,000. SOLD FOR $940

Spring 2011 - Item detail

1969 Dizzy Dean Single-Signed Ball with Unique Provenance