At the very height of World War II, the nation was united as never before in the interest of preserving liberty. Major League Baseball pitched in to promote the sale of War Bonds to support the cause, and one such effort took place on July 28, 1943 at Yankee Stadium. The fundraiser featured an exhibition contest in which numerous active and retired baseball stars – as well as enthusiastic novices – participated. This visually engaging Reach "Official League" unofficial baseball, signed by thirty of the day's attendees and carrying the notation "War Relief - July 28, 1943 - Yankee Stadium" on its reverse sweet spot stampings, survives as a souvenir of the memorable occasion. The actual exhibition game combatants were the "Yanklands," a combined Yankees and Indians squad,  that faced off against the "Cloudbusters." (The latter group was in fact a U.S. Navy All-Star Team – the "Chapel Hill Cloudbusters" – to which Cadet Ted Williams had reported in May, 1943, as a step toward earning his Marine Corps aviator's wings.) Members of both teams (including a number of '43 Yankees players) have signed this amazing ball, as did various other game attendees. The ball's ink signature content is highlighted by a high-quality name scripting of Babe Ruth. His autograph (accompanied by a personalization and straddling the ball's "Reach" side-panel stamping) is small but vivid and perfectly formed. Ted Williams has signed along the ball's "Official League" stamping. Yankee pitcher Rollie Hemsley shares the sweet spot with a clubhouse rendering of manager Joe McCarthy's name. Additional highlights include: Bill Dickey, Tommy Byrne, Joe Gordon, Bill Zuber, Tuck Stainback, Oscar Grimes, Spud Chandler, Nick Etten, Bud Metheny, Johnny Lindell, Ernie Bonham, Marius Russo, Lou Boudreau and Frank Crosetti. Finally, Mickey Mantle is represented by a modern signature in black ballpoint that was clearly added many years after the War Bond Game was held. The evenly toned ball shows evidence of game use in the form of scattered scuffing and soiling. Comes with a LOA from JSA and Mears. 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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