Babe Ruth 100th Anniversary Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/12/2014
Where do you start when describing this ball? The 1951 Yankees were one of those storied teams that only the Yankees franchise seemed to produce generation after generation. Like the 1936 team that featured the passing of the torch from Gehrig to DiMaggio, the 1951 club saw "The Clipper" seamlessly relinquish his
position as Yankee superstar to the 20 year-old Mickey Mantle. The 1951 team was stocked with over a dozen All-Stars and six future Hall of Famers: DiMaggio, Mantle, Mize, Rizzuto, Berra and skipper Casey Stengel. While the Dodgers and Giants slugged it out for the NL pennant, the Yankees cruised to their
3rd consecutive league championship and beat the Giants in 6 on their way to their 3rd of 5 consecutive World Championships. Besides Mantle, DiMaggio and the other 3 Hall of Famers (the two Stengel sigs
are clubhouse), this Official American League Harridge Ball has been signed by Gene Woodling, Allie
Reynolds, Casey Stengel ( signed twice with both being clubhouse signatures which was then a common practice), Billy Martin, John Sain, Vic Raschi, Charlie Silvera, Gil McDougald, Bob Kuzava, Joe Collins, Irv Noren, Joe Ostrowski, Hank Bauer, Ed Lopat, Ralph Houk, and Jim Brideweser, Loren Babe, Jim McDonald, Johnny Schmitz, Bill Miller, and Tom Gorman, all 1952 new comers, have also signed the ball indicating that this was probably signed in early '52. A further indication of its 1952 date is the inclusion of one additional non-player: MARILYN MONROE ! The most storied romance in the history of baseball, DiMaggio began dating the blonde bombshell in early '52. During DiMaggio's last season in baseball, he happened on a newspaper photo of White Sox players Gus Zernial and Joe Dobson posing with Marilyn Monroe. Like millions of other men before and since, "The Clipper" was completely taken with the world's ultimate sex symbol and pulled every string he could in order to meet her. The starlet was at first reluctant to meet DiMaggio, thinking he would be another egotistical jock and rebuffed his request for a date until early 1952. To her surprise, the two hit it off and thus began a whirlwind courtship that culminated in their 1954 elopement. The two became the biggest paparazzi item the world had ever seen- the greatest living baseball player and the most desired woman in the world ! Unfortunately their marriage would be a stormy one marked by DiMaggio's uncontrollable jealousy and according to diverse papers - mental cruelty. Though the two parted in '56, they remained extremely close and shared a bond that neither ever found again in their subsequent partners. But all that was long after this ball was signed. In the spring of 1952 the two were deeply in love with one another, blissfully beginning the biggest celebrity romance the world had ever seen.
The circumstances of this ball's signing may now be lost to time, but we can state this is one of the
rarest, most unique, and curious signed balls in the history of the hobby. There have been a few other
DiMaggio-Monroe balls that have come to auction but those derive from a prize given to the winners of a 1952 softball league and feature just 15 Yankees--this ball is one-of-a kind and has a whopping 26 Yanks plus Marilyn. The signatures overall average a "7/8" in grade and range from a "5" to a "8/9". DiMaggio has signed the sweet spot and grades a technical "5" (due to some flaking, although the signature is much stronger)
while his future bride has signed just below him , with her elegant flowing script grading a solid "8/9". None
of the previous baseballs that have come to market with Marilyn's magnificent script can compare
in style, boldness or grace to this almost flawless sweet spot beauty she penned on this orb.
The original owner has coated the ball with a light layer of shellac which has taken on a nice tone over the years. The ball's stampings are light but remain legible. Its position as one of the greatest baseball and Hollywood pieces is unassailable. Collector's recognize that any item signed by both Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio are extremely rare---known baseballs signed by the pair can be counted on less than two hands. This is perhaps the ultimate Joe DiMaggio collectible-- or maybe the ultimate Mickey Mantle collectible - or 1950's Yankee collectible - or the ultimate Marilyn Monroe collectible - take your pick - it all adds up to one of the most unique and historic team signed baseballs to have ever come to market. This ball comes with a full Letter of Authenticity from James Spence Authentication.