Winter Auction 2015 closing February 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2015
While most Major League teams tried to survive the war years with a succession of teenagers and unknowns, the New York Giants turned to tried and true veterans. As a result, the 1944-45 squads featured three Hall of Famers - Ott, Lombardi and Medwick, and a core group of minor stars of the previous decade; like Bill Jurges and Johnny Allen. Still, the Giants foundered and only managed a 5th place finish both seasons. One notable on this ball is the team's pitching coach, Dolf Luque, the first Cuban ballplayer to achieve fame in the majors. This Spalding Official League Ball gathers 25 of that '45 squad: Hall of Famers Joe Medwick and Ernie Lombardi plus Danny Gardella, Ewald Pyle, Ray Berras, Bill Jurges, Gus Mancuso, Nap Reyes, Phil Weintraub, *Hugh Luby, *Frank Seward, *Johnny Allen, Harry Feldman, Jack Brewer, Bill Voiselle, Buddy Kerr, Rube Fischer, *Bob Barthelson, Ace Adams, Andy Hansen, Johnny Rucker, *Bruce Sloan and coaches Bubber Jonnard and Dolf Luque. Manager Mel Ott's signature is a clubhouse. Players marked with an "*" played on the 1944 team but not during the 1945 season. Letter of Authentification from PSA/DNA.