October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
Offered is one of the most important team signed baseballs from the early days of the game; as it contains the signatures of two Hall of Famers, Cy Young and Nap Lajoie (signed during the height of their careers). This Reach "Bounding Rock" baseball has been signed in black fountain pen by twelve members of the 1909 Cleveland Naps (named after their famous player/manager). This includes, Larry Lajoie ("3/4"), Cy Young ("3"), "Charles 'Kid' Nichols" ("1-2"), Bobby Lowe ("2"), Bill Bradley (twice, "6" and "5"), Tom Raftery ("4"), Nick Altrock ("4"), and Al "Kip" Selbach ("3"). The remaining four signatures have severely faded and are not legible. Although only twelve signatures are legible, this ball most likely results as a 1909 Cleveland Naps team signed ball for a couple reasons: Young, Lajoie, Bradley, and Raftery were all on the Naps club that season; and the 1909 season saw Raftery lace up the spikes for his only season in the Major Leagues. Nichols, Lowe and Selbach had all retired just prior to 1909, and Altrock played with both Chicago and Washington that year. Team signed balls from this era are extremely rare, with one signed by early Hall of Famers Cy Young and Larry Lajoie during their active careers are exceedingly tough. Full LOA form James Spence Authentication, cert number B82448.