This attractive and off-white Spalding "Babe Ruth Home Run Special" unofficial ball has been signed in black fountain pen by eighteen members of the 1931 New York Yankees, including: Babe Ruth (sweet spot), Henry Johnson, Paul Andrews, Chas. Ruffing, Lou Gehrig, Herb Pennock, Tony Lazzeri, Joe Sewell, Lyn Lary, George Pipgras, Bill Dickey, Dusty Rhodes, Cy Perkins, Vernon Gomez, Jimmy Reese, Art Jorgens, Earle Combs and Myril Hoag. (Perkins was a Yankee for one year only.) The ’31 Yankees roster held nine players who were future Hall of Famers, and all are represented here. Particularly captivating among their signatures is that of Lefty Gomez. He was then a 22-year-old hopeful (with a losing one-season record on his ledger) and didn't care to draw attention with a flamboyant nickname, instead signing, "Vernon Gomez." The black fountain pen signatures project admirably strong quality however the signatures of Ruth, Gehrig, Pennock, Lazzeri, Reese, Jorgens, Combs and Hoag have been traced over. The 1931 Yankees team, with its abundance of HOFers and 94-59 record, nevertheless finished in a distant second place to Connie Mack's Athletics' team that completed the season with a total of 107 victories. Lou Gehrig led the AL with 46 homers and 184 RBI, while batting an impressive .341. Teammate Babe Ruth hit a monstrous .373 and tied Gehrig for the league lead in homers while knocking in 163 runs. LOA from PSA/DNA LOA. Goldin Auctions will be donating 5% of the winning bid price of this lot and all lots in this auction to the Babe Ruth Birthplace Museum.

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