This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/31/2015
The most perfect of all the imperfect games ever thrown; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Harvey Haddix turned in a spectacular and brilliant performance setting down not just 27 but 36 consecutive Milwaukee Braves batters over 12-perfect-innings terribly gone awry when an error by Pirates third baseman Doan Hoak in the bottom of the 13th cost Haddix not only the longest perfect game ever thrown, but also a victory as the Braves defeated the Pirates with the game’s only run at Milwaukee County Stadium on May 26th 1959.
Throwing 12 perfect innings against any major league team would have been a spectacular feat in itself but the 1959 Braves were the most formidable of foes featuring Hall of Fame Sluggers Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews as well as bruisers like Joe Adcock, Del Crandall, Wes Covington, Bill Bruton and hard hitting shortstop Johnny Logan. The Braves led the National League with 177 home runs on the season and placed second in runs scored and batting average.
A pair of Offical scorecards from the game presented here is signed by all of the game’s participants from both teams at their positions on diagrams of the field on the upper left-hand corners of the cards, as well as the officiating umpires. The Braves scorecard with the contains the signatures of Pirates: Bob Skinner, Bill Virdon, Roman Mejias, Joe Christopher, Don Hoak, Dick Schofield, Bill Mazeroski, Rocky Nelson, Dick Stuart, Smoky Burgess, manager Danny Murtaugh and coaches; Frank Oceak and George Detore as well as umpires Vinnie Smith, Frank Dascoli, Frank Secory and Hal Dixon. Pirates radio broadcaster Bob Prince signed the scorecard with a “Dear Harv: Without -question – my greatest –single sports thrill” inscription.
The Pirates scorecard is signed by Braves fielders at their positions including; Wes Covington, Andy Pafko, Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Johnny Logan, Felix Mantilla, Johnny O’Brien, Joe Adcock, Lou Burdette, Del Crandall, Del Rice, Manager Fred Haney and coaches; Billy Herman and John Fitzpatrick.
Impeccably kept scorecards are fully filled out and account for every last detail of the game revealing Haddix tragic line score; 12.1 IP, 0 ER, 1H, 8 SO, 1 BB and Burdette’s almost as impressive winning line; 13 IP, 0 ER, 12 H, 2 SO, 0 BB. An added footnote explains that Joe Adcock’s apparent game-ending home run was voided to a double “As Aaron stopped between bases-Adcock Passed Runner.”
Overlooked during Harvey Haddix’s heartbreaking masterpiece was the part played by his catcher, veteran backstop Smoky Burgess. Throughout the 12 perfect innings, Burgess was the perfect foil to Haddix’s cool performance. Shortly after the May 26th game, Burgess gave Haddix the mitt he used to catch the greatest perfect game in history. In recognition of this historic game, the entire Braves team passed around an Official National League ball, each man adding his signature to document their place in baseball history. The ball carries 30 signatures including: Aaron, Mathews, Bruton, Adcock, Covington, Crandall, Pafko, Logan, Crandall, Mantilla, Burdette, Rice, Fitzpatrick, Warren Spahn, Red Schoendienst, Casey Wise, Don McMahon, Stan Lopata, Carl Willey, Bob Buhl, Bob Trowbridge, George Susce, Frank Torre, Juan Pizarro, and manager Fred Haney on the sweet spot.
A representative walked the ball over to the Pittsburgh locker room and presented it to Harvey Haddix, a quiet tribute to the man who kept their bats hitless through 12 innings.
Burgess' MacGregor GP10 model catcher's mitt held a special place in Harvey Haddix's personal collection as well as this signed ball and is offered here by his widow Marcia. Letter of Authenticity from Mrs. Harvey Haddix for all items. PSA/DNA LOA for Burgess Mitt