Spring Premium LIVE Auction April 30th and Catalog Auction May 7th
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/30/2016
A signature item among signature items, this superb and flawless, single-signed and exquisitely inscribed Roger Maris ball succinctly says it all: “Roger Maris 61 Home runs 1961.”
Long the most sought after baseball record of them all, Babe Ruth’s single season home run mark withstood all challenges for 34 years until that fateful day on October 1, 1961 when Maris, not Mickey Mantle, connected off Boston Red Sox hurler Evan Tracy Stallard, launching a low line drive down the right field line and into eternity with the game’s only run on the last day of the season.
Maris and Mantle engaged in a spirited and celebrated chase for the Babe’s record with the improbable Maris outlasting the legendary Mick to write his own name in the record books.
The back-to-back American League MVP in 1960 and 1961 Maris remained a forever humble and modest man of few words, seldom celebrating his own achievements even in the form of added amendments to autographs, making this boldly inscribed ball all the more scarce.
Maris carefully took the time to get his signature and inscription just right on this clean, cream colored Harwood “Official League” ball. The entire four-word and two-number phrase is meticulously penned in black steel-tip fountain pen, generously occupying the ball’s entire left side panel.
This exceptional example of Maris memorabilia comes with a lengthy PSA/DNA LOA (X03490) and Letter of Grading and Authenticity with a grade of (10) for the signature and (6) for the ball with an overall grade of (8). This is quite possibly the finest signed and inscribed Maris ball known to exist.