Summer 2021 - Item detail
Circa 1940s Josh Gibson Single-Signed Baseball - JSA
- Sold For:
- $198,000
- Year:
- 1942
- Auction:
- 2021 Summer
- Lot #:
- 1859
- Category:
- Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos
Wilson "Official American Association" (Trautman) baseball featuring the exceedingly rare signature of legendary Negro League Hall of Famer Josh Gibson. The offered baseball is accompanied by a full letter of authenticity from JSA. Gibson's signature ("'Josh Gibson") and inscription ("Homestead Grays") have been scripted in black fountain pen on a side panel and grades "5" overall. A vintage black fountain-pen notation printed to the left of the signature appears to be "1942." Josh Gibson's signature is rare in any form, but especially on a baseball. This is one of less than ten baseballs we have ever seen signed by Gibson and just the third we have offered. Aside from the balls, we have probably seen fewer than twenty other items signed by Gibson, making his signature one of the most elusive of all Hall of Fame players, Negro League or otherwise. It should be further noted that nearly all of the other Josh Gibson signed balls that we know of are team balls, and this is the first Josh Gibson single-signed ball that we have ever offered. The offered ball wonderfully showcases Gibson's scripted signature, making it one of the premier Josh Gibson signed balls in the hobby. The ball displays moderate soiling, and a few abrasions (none of which affect the Gibson signature). The manufacturer's stampings are badly faded, but portions are still legible to the naked eye. In Good condition overall.
Josh Gibson was one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, players in Negro League history. As a hitter he was without equal and his power was said to be on par with that of Babe Ruth. While no official statistics are available, Gibson's Hall of Fame plaque credits him with over 800 home runs during his seventeen-year career (1930-1946). While that total and some of the stories regarding his prodigious power may be apocryphal, Negro League historian John Holway credits him with 224 home runs in 2,375 at bats against top Negro League teams. If accurate, his home run to at bat ratio of 10.6 is easily the best in Negro League history. Also, in recorded at bats against Major League pitchers Gibson compiled a .426 average. In the opinion of those who saw him play, there seems no doubt that Gibson was one of the best players in baseball history, black or white. Monte Irvin once said that Gibson "had an eye like Ted Williams and the power of Babe Ruth. He hit to all fields." After Walter Johnson saw Gibson play he commented to reporters, "There is a catcher that any big league club would like to buy for $200,000. His name is Gibson. He can do everything. He hits the ball a mile. And he catches so easy, he might as well be in a rocking chair. Throws like a rifle." Gibson probably would have been the front runner to break the color barrier in 1947 had he not experienced both serious physical and mental health problems. He suffered a nervous breakdown in 1943 and struggled with both excessive drinking and substance abuse for the remainder of his short life. In January 1947, just a few months prior to Robinson’s historic debut with the Dodgers, Gibson suffered a fatal stroke at the age of thirty-five. His untimely death at such a young age is the primary reason for the great rarity of his signature today. Full LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $2,500.
Josh Gibson was one of the greatest, if not THE greatest, players in Negro League history. As a hitter he was without equal and his power was said to be on par with that of Babe Ruth. While no official statistics are available, Gibson's Hall of Fame plaque credits him with over 800 home runs during his seventeen-year career (1930-1946). While that total and some of the stories regarding his prodigious power may be apocryphal, Negro League historian John Holway credits him with 224 home runs in 2,375 at bats against top Negro League teams. If accurate, his home run to at bat ratio of 10.6 is easily the best in Negro League history. Also, in recorded at bats against Major League pitchers Gibson compiled a .426 average. In the opinion of those who saw him play, there seems no doubt that Gibson was one of the best players in baseball history, black or white. Monte Irvin once said that Gibson "had an eye like Ted Williams and the power of Babe Ruth. He hit to all fields." After Walter Johnson saw Gibson play he commented to reporters, "There is a catcher that any big league club would like to buy for $200,000. His name is Gibson. He can do everything. He hits the ball a mile. And he catches so easy, he might as well be in a rocking chair. Throws like a rifle." Gibson probably would have been the front runner to break the color barrier in 1947 had he not experienced both serious physical and mental health problems. He suffered a nervous breakdown in 1943 and struggled with both excessive drinking and substance abuse for the remainder of his short life. In January 1947, just a few months prior to Robinson’s historic debut with the Dodgers, Gibson suffered a fatal stroke at the age of thirty-five. His untimely death at such a young age is the primary reason for the great rarity of his signature today. Full LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $2,500.