The 86 wins of the Yankees in 1930 earned the team a 3rd place AL finish, 24 games behind the Athletics. The aging core of Ruth, Gehrig, Lazzeri, Pennock, Hoyt, Combs and Pipgras welcomed newcomers like Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing, Bill Dickey and Ben Chapman. But the team had not quite jelled. Ruth and Gehrig still slugged 90 HR between them. But out of the remainder of the roster, only Chapman hit double digits in dingers with 10. The five starting pitchers managed to win 65 games. While entertaining for season eight in Yankee Stadium, those numbers couldn’t match the ascending Philadelphia Athletics.

This circa-1930s, red-and-blue laced Spalding Official National League baseball holds 18 signatures from that 1930 Yankees team. It is variously blemished with discoloration from handling over time. Hall of Famer Babe Ruth’s signature is across the sweet spot in black fountain pen. Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig signed his name on his customary side panel that has the Spalding stamp and also has the signature of Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri. Other signatures include Hall of Famers Bill Dickey and Earle Combs, with notable signatures that include Ben Chapman, Cedric Durst, Lou McEvoy, manager Bob Shawkey, Gordon Rhodes, Mark Koenig and others. This ball comes with a LOA from JSA.

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