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 recorded his 11th save of the 1995 season on May 24th, 1995 during the California Angels 3-1 victory over the New York Yankees at Anaheim Stadium. This save was also Lee Smith’s 445th career save as he pitched a scoreless ninth inning to preserve the victory. Smith signed his name in blue pen on the side panel of this Official American League Bobby Brown baseball that was used during this game. The ball displays solid use and shows minor wear. Inscriptions on this ball in blue ink include “Save #445”, “5/24/95 AL 200 Game”, “New York 001 000 000 – 1” and “Angels 000 000 03X – 3”. This game used and signed baseball comes with a LOA from Lee Smith.