1939 Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Class Signed Baseball....

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1939 Inaugural Hall of Fame Induction Class Signed Baseball. The identity of a sleepy little town in upstate New York was transformed forever on June 12, 1939, the day the ribbon was cut at the newly founded Baseball Hall of Fame on the shores of Lake Otsego. Though Cooperstown had enjoyed some limited fame with its controversial proclamation as baseball's birthplace, never had the eyes of the nation been so keenly focused upon the leafy hamlet until the day that the greatest living ballplayers convened to receive the game's highest honor.

Most of the items signed by that legendary inaugural class that have survived to present day have been paper--Heritage famously sold a first day cover for $96,000 in our February 2018 Platinum Night auction. This is the very first signed baseball from the ribbon-cutting ceremony that we have encountered, thus one of the most important and desirable signed balls in the hobby. Ten of the eleven class members appear, beginning with Babe Ruth on the sweet spot and continuing on to include Connie Mack, Napoleon "Larry" Lajoie, Eddie Collins, Cy Young, Ty Cobb, George Sisler, Honus Wagner, Grover Cleveland Alexander and Walter Johnson. Also present are the period signatures of Lefty Gomez and Dizzy Dean, each of whom participated in the exhibition game at Doubleday Field in 1939. Finally, a thirteenth Hall of Fame autograph from Joe DiMaggio dates to decades later, applied in perfect blue ballpoint.

The vintage autographs average about 6/10, all quite readily legible upon the lightly and evenly toned hide of the ONL (Frick) sphere. A spectacularly rare and desirable relic from one of the most important events in 20th century baseball history. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.