Summer Premium Live and Catalog Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/6/2017
When former closer Lee Smith retired from baseball in 1997, he was the all-time saves leader with 478. Only Trevor Hoffman and Mariano Rivera finished with more career saves than the big righty from Louisiana. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 2nd round of the 1975 MLB Amateur Draft, Smith made his debut with the “Northsiders” on September 1, 1980. His 18-year career saw him pitch for the Cubs, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Montreal Expos.
Smith notched his 357th career save and 2nd of the 1993 season as the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the San Francisco Giants 2-1 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on April 8th, 1993. Smith pitched a perfect ninth inning to and this Official National League William D. White baseball was used during this game. This baseball shows outstanding use with toning and contact marks. Smith signed his name in blue pen on the side panel. Inscriptions on this ball in faded black ink include “Save #357”, “4-8-93”, “San Francisco 010 000 000 –1 5 1” and “Cardinals 100 000 10X–2 4 0”. This game used and signed baseball comes with a LOA from Lee Smith.