Brooklyn fans dubbed Paul Waner “Big Poison” to differentiate him from his nearly identical but slightly smaller brother Lloyd who was called “Little Poison” - “poison” being Brooklynese for “person”, as in “dat big poison hit another home run off our bums today.” Big Poison won three batting crowns and his .380 average in 1927 earned him the NL MVP Award. In 1942 he became just the seventh player in history to surpass the 3,000-hit mark and he would end his career in 1945 with a lifetime .333 average and a trail of heartbroken pitchers.

As a tribute to the esteem with which his career was regarded, Paul Waner was ushered into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Although he was retired as a player, Big Poison could not give up the game he loved and excelled at. He built his own private batting cage and began tutoring young Pirates players in the art of hitting, setting the stage for the franchise’s 1960 World Championship. He also is credited with giving Ted Williams the advice he needed to combat the “Williams Shift” that was being used to rob him of many hits. For Ted Williams to seek and take advice from someone else on hitting speaks volumes.

This Spalding Official National League Giles ball was signed by Big Poison some time during the 1950s when he was passing on his decades of hitting knowledge to the younger generation. The ball shows very light toning and is stunningly white. Waner has signed a side panel in fresh blue ball point, his flowing script almost jumping off the bright white leather of the ball. One look at the single-signed beauty marks it as one of the finest Paul Waner balls in the hobby. The ball comes with a LOA from JSA (BB30313) for the signature.

Auction Notepad