Gene Autry was the owner of a television station and several radio stations in Southern California, as well as the original owner of the Los Angeles/California/Anaheim Angels Major League Baseball team from 1961 to 1997. From 1934 to 1953, Autry appeared in 93 films, and between 1950 and 1956 hosted “The Gene Autry Show” television series. In 1960, when Major League Baseball announced plans to add an expansion team in Los Angeles, Autry expressed an interest in acquiring the radio broadcast rights to the team's games. Baseball executives were so impressed by his approach that he was persuaded to become the owner of the franchise rather than simply its broadcast partner. The team, initially called the Los Angeles Angels upon its 1961 debut, moved to suburban Anaheim in 1966, and was renamed the California Angels, then the Anaheim Angels from 1997 until 2005, when it became the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Autry was presented with this San Francisco Giants team signed baseball award. The award is a multi-signed baseball that is mounted on a black holder with a silver-plated panel that reads “GENE AUTRY San Francisco Giants 1962 Pennant Winners Courtesy of KSFO”. Please note that the plate is loose from the holder. The ball, which displays toning and has been covered in a coating of shellac that show some chipping, has the signatures of Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Gaylord Perry, Orlando Cepeda and Willie McCovey, along with Felipe Alou, Bob Garibaldi, Ed Baily, Jose Pagan, Joey Amalfitano, Jim Duffalo, Al Dark (stamped) and others. This ball comes from the collection of Gene Autry and a LOA from his widow Jacqueline Autry will accompany this item. There is also a LOA from Beckett Authentication (A25576).

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