After winning consecutive World Championships in 1936, 1937 and 1938, the 1939 edition of the Bronx Bombers was by far the best of the bunch. Even with the loss of Lou Gehrig early in the year, the Yanks plowed through the competition, finishing with a 106-45 record, 17 games in front of the nearest team. The team featured future Hall of Famers Joe DiMaggio and Red Ruffing plus a never-ending flow of talent from the team’s vast farm system such as Marius Russo, Charlie Keller, George Selkirk and Atley Donald. Also notable was outfielder Jake Powell, a talented but troubled and controversial character who would commit suicide just eight years later in a Washington, DC police station while being questioned for check fraud.

This colorful and talent-laden club swept the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series; the second year in the row they won the Series in four straight games. The 24 signatures on this ball are simply outstanding. The team has signed the Reach Official American League Harridge ball in very strong black fountain pen. Ace Red Ruffing has signed the sweet spot and is joined by fellow Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig (clubhouse), Joe DiMaggio, Joe McCarthy (clubhouse), Bill Dickey, plus Spud Chandler, Frank Crosetti, Buddy Rosar, Hoot Pearson, Charlie Keller, Babe Dahlgren, Bill Knickerbocker, Art Jorgens, Jake Powell, Ora Hildebrand, Joe Gordon, Atley Donald, Red Rolfe, Bump Hadley, Marius Russo, Steve Sundra, Johnny Schulte, George Selkirk, Tommy Henrich, and even batting practice pitcher Paul Schreiber. The ball is very clean and the black fountain pen signatures just leap off its surface. An unknown hand has labeled the ball “1939 World’s Champions” in black ink and a faded “D.B.” is present adjacent to Ruffing’s signature on the sweet spot. Its condition plus the combination of Gehrig and DiMaggio marks this as one of the most outstanding 1939 Yankees balls in the hobby. This item comes with a LOA from JSA.

Auction Notepad