Skip to main content
Go to accessibility notice
Home / Sports / 2012 May 3-5 Vintage Sports Collectibles Signature Auction- Dallas Auction #7051 / Lot #80943
    LOT #80943  | 
    Sold on May 5, 2012 for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

    1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower....

    Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
    • Baseball Collectibles:Balls, 1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower....
    • Baseball Collectibles:Balls, 1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower....
    • Baseball Collectibles:Balls, 1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower....
    • Baseball Collectibles:Balls, 1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower....
    Baseball Collectibles:Balls, 1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower.... Baseball Collectibles:Balls, 1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower.... Baseball Collectibles:Balls, 1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower.... Baseball Collectibles:Balls, 1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower.... View More >
    Sold on May 5, 2012 for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)

    View Recent Offers on Sold Items in this category
    Claim Item:
    Track Item Share this lot

    Sell One of These Currency Converter

    Description

    1938 Record-Setting "High Catch" Baseball Dropped from Cleveland's 708-Foot Tall Terminal Tower. Members of our Heritage collecting family who tuned in for the April 2009 Signature auction will remember the presentation of a baseball caught by Gabby Street after being dropped 535 feet from the top of the Washington Monument in our nation's capital, and here we offer the sphere that shattered that "high catch" record. Indians third baseman Ken Keltner, best remembered as the man who brought an end to Joe DiMaggio's fifty-six game hitting streak in 1941, lobbed this OAL (Harridge) ball from a perch on Cleveland's Terminal Tower just over 700 feet above the ground, where it was caught by his teammate, back-up catcher Frankie Pytlak. His vintage black fountain pen inscription on the sweet spot has partially worn away, but is still legible: "Caught off the Terminal Tower on August 20th, 1938, Height 708, by Frank Pytlak, Cleveland Indians." Mathematicians estimated the speed of the ball at 138 miles per hour at impact, leading Pytlak to quip, "It stung more than Bob Feller's fast one." Ex-Halper collection, with his letter of provenance. Letter of provenance from Barry Halper. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA. Auction LOA from James Spence Authentication.

    View all of [The Seth Swirsky Collection ]

    Auction Info

    Auction Dates
    May, 2012
    3rd-5th Thursday-Saturday
    Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 6
    Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
    Page Views: 1,732

    Buyer's Premium per Lot:
    19.5% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot.

    Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
    Calculate Standard Domestic Shipping Sales Tax information

    Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More

    Terms and Conditions  |  Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments |  Glossary of Terms

    Viewing at %
    Please enter a value between % and 100% and press your "Enter" key. Close
    Fit to screen View Full Size Brightness
    Sold on May 5, 2012 for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
    Sold on May 5, 2012 for: Sign-in or Join (free & quick)
    Track Item
    Coming soon:

    Luxury Real Estate
    Opens about 01/22/2021

    Comics & Comic Art
    Opens about 03/12/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 03/17/2021

    Comics & Comic Art
    Opens about 03/19/2021

    Decorative Art
    Opens about 03/18/2021

    Jewelry & Timepieces
    Opens about 02/24/2021

    Musical Instruments
    Opens about 03/23/2021

    Photography
    Opens about 03/22/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 03/23/2021

    Photography
    Opens about 03/24/2021

    Comics & Comic Art
    Opens about 03/18/2021

    Sports Collectibles
    Opens about 04/01/2021

    US Coins
    Opens about 03/16/2021

    Decorative Art
    Opens about 03/26/2021

    World & Ancient Coins
    Opens about 03/21/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 03/31/2021

    US Coins
    Opens about 04/02/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 04/01/2021

    Currency
    Opens about 04/02/2021

    US Coins
    Opens about 03/22/2021

    World & Ancient Coins
    Opens about 03/28/2021

    Decorative Art
    Opens about 04/06/2021

    Decorative Art
    Opens about 04/08/2021

    Currency
    Opens about 04/12/2021

    Illustration Art
    Opens about 04/09/2021

    Decorative Art
    Opens about 04/09/2021

    Entertainment
    Opens about 04/12/2021

    Luxury Accessories
    Opens about 04/12/2021

    Jewelry & Timepieces
    Opens about 04/02/2021

    Fine Art
    Opens about 04/14/2021

    Heritage membership

    Join Now - It's Free

    VIEW BENEFITS
    1. Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
    2. Bid online
    3. Free Collector newsletter
    4. Want List with instant e-mail notifications
    5. Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
      winnings 
    Consign now
    • Cash Advances
    • More Bidders
    • Trusted Experts
    • Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
    Only 7 days left to consign to the 2021 May 6 - 8 Spring Sports Catalog Auction - Dallas!

    Learn about consigning with us

    The hammer price for my Mantle card significantly exceeded my admittedly conservative estimations, and I couldn't be more pleased.
    George T.,
    Pinetop, AZ
    View More Testimonials

    Video tutorial

    Getting the most out of search