Fall 2018 - Item detail
1935 Satchel Paige Single-Signed Baseball - One of the Earliest Paige Signed Balls in Existence!
- Sold For:
- $3,000
- Year:
- 1935
- Auction:
- 2018 Fall
- Lot #:
- 1516
- Category:
- Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos
Satchel Paige single-signed ball dating from his 1935 season with the "Bismarcks" of North Dakota. This is one of two Satchel Paige single-signed balls dating from 1935 we have ever seen, and we are aware of no others that predate it, making the offered sphere one of the two earliest known examples. Paige has inscribed the Goldsmith "Champion" ball in black fountain pen on a side panel "Aug. 21 1935/Bismarck Ball Cl./Satchel Paige." Both the inscription and Paige's signature grade "5/6" overall. Another black fountain-pen inscription, scripted on a separate side panel (not in Paige's hand) reads "Aug 15 1935/ Bismarck." Paige was a member of the "Bismarcks" in 1935, an integrated semi-pro club founded by local Bismarck, North Dakota, car dealer Neil Churchill. The club had a record of 61-18 in 1934, but that wasn't good enough for Churchill, so in 1935 he signed some of the top talent in the country, both black and white. In addition to Paige, Churchill also signed other Negro League stars, including Ted "Double Duty" Radcliffe, Hilton Smith, and Chet Brewer. With an all-star lineup, Churchill entered the first National Semipro Championship tournament, which was held in Wichita, Kansas, beginning on August 14. Bismarck went undefeated in the tournament, with Paige winning four of the club's seven games during the week; thereby solidifying the 1935 "Bismarcks" as one of the greatest semi-pro clubs ever assembled. Vintage Satchel Paige single-signed balls dating from his Negro League days are exceedingly rare, making this an exceptionally desirable example for any advanced Hall of Fame or Negro League single-signed ball collector. The ball is heavily toned, but all of the manufacturer's stampings remain clearly legible. In Very Good condition overall. Full LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $1,000. Estimate (open).