Item ID: 881222 INV ID: Watch Listing
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Presented is an Official American League Ball (Johnson), dated and signed on a side panel by Ty Cobb, the Georgia Peach. The fiery Inaugural Hall of Famer autographed the ball in black fountain ink and inscribed the date, 9/7/22. Cobb used black fountain ink to sign on a single side panel and add the date, 9/7/22, just under his signature. The big Cobb signature, despite a small abrasion that crosses upon the letter T in Ty, stays decidedly bold, grading 9. Regardless of Cobb's predilection for graciously acceding to autograph requests from fans, particularly in the decades following his playing years (1905-28), single-signed balls from his playing days are virtually non-existent. This offering is the first that we can recall. What makes the displayed ball so particularly prized is that we can readily ascertain, to the day, when Cobb signed and dated it. In 1922, Cobb was 35 years old and the Tiger player-manager. But neither his advancing years nor the distractions and problems of managing could stop Cobb's bat. He batted a robust .401, and he was deprived of a 13th AL batting crown when George Sisler hit a career high .420. While the provenance of this ball is unknown, it is clear that whoever originally obtained it did so on an off-day on September 7, 1922, as the Tigers were on their way from Chicago to St. Louis to play the next day against the Browns. The vast majority of Cobb single-signed balls come from the 1950s or from the final two years of his life, 1961-62. Thus, this example from 1922 is extremely rare and an especially auspicious find. The ball is deeply soiled, and it exhibits many minor abrasions; fortunately, the signature and date are essentially unaffected, the juxtaposition of the lighter Cobb signature and date against the darker Cobb signature and date brings out an impressive visual contrast and provides superb eye-appeal. The rarity of a single-signed Cobb ball from his playing days and the strong visual pop emanating from the contrast between Cobb's signature and inscription and the background provide an exemplary, vintage Cobb single-signed baseball.
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