October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
The Philadelphia Phillies were engaged in a heated pennant race beginning the day tied for first with the National League East division rival Montreal Expos when the teams met on October 3, 1980. Phillies slugger Mike Schmidt drove in the game’s first run scoring Pete Rose on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning and hit this Rawlings Charles S Feeney Official National League Ball off Montreal starter for a solo shot that gave the Phillies a 2-0 lead and provided the margin of victory in a crucial 2-1 win that gave the Phillies a one-game lead with two games left on the schedule. The blast was Schmidt’s 47th home run of the season tying him with Eddie Mathews for the most home runs hit by a third baseman in a single-season. Schmidt would break the record with his league-leading, career-high 48th home run in the top of the 11th inning to clinch the division for the Phillies the next day, and the team would go on to win the first World Series in its 97-year history. This well-worn ball is turning brown and has some pine tar stains along the seams surrounding the sweet spot, with a “47th HR 1980 Tied Record for HRs by Third Baseman” inscription and comes with a notarized letter of authenticity from Mike Schmidt.