Following the historic home run chase of 1998 between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa that saw McGwire and Sosa pass Roger Maris for the single-season home run record, McGwire kept up the pace the following season of 1999. McGwire, for the fourth consecutive season, hit at least 50 home runs in the season, becoming the first player to hit 50 home runs in four consecutive seasons and only the third player in history to 50 home runs in a season, joining Babe Ruth and Sammy Sosa. Both Sosa and McGwire are the only players in history to record four consecutive 50 home run seasons.

McGwire’s 50th home run of the 1999 season came during the first game of the August 22nd double-header at Shea Stadium when the Cardinals took on the Mets. McGwire’s 50th home run was the second of the game and came during the top of the seventh inning off Mets’ pitcher Jeff Tam. McGwire’s solo shot was hit to deep left center field landing in the bleachers where fans fought for the ball, but it ended up back onto the field. Center fielder Shawon Dunston grabbed the ball and tossed it back to Joseph Pugliese, who was holding his son and caught the attention of Dunston who lobbed it right to him.

This offered Official National League Leonard S. Coleman stamped baseball is the very ball McGwire hit for his historic home run that put him into rare company in baseball. As would be expected, this ball displays outstanding game use with abrasion and dirt marks. The video attached to this lot starts with McGwire hitting the home run and shows the fans dropping the ball onto the field and when the shot returns to the crowd, it shows Pugliese holding the ball in the air while holding his young son in his other arm. A truly historic ball and it comes with a letter of provenance from Joseph Pugliese along with a full edition of the New York Daily News which details the story about Shawon Dunston unwittingly tossing a piece of history back into the crowd on page 56. Dunston was quoted in the paper “I didn’t know it was 50” he said at the time. “I just threw it to a man with a baby in his hands. I’m so sorry”. McGwire was quoted in the same piece by saying “If a father and young son have it, so be it. Let them cherish it.” There is also a LOA from MEARS for the game use.

Auction Notepad