Spring Premium Live and Catalog Auction 2018 Closing May 5
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/6/2018
The New York Yankees played their first ever night game at Yankee Stadium on May 28th, 1946 in front of 49,917 fans. Although the Yankees didn’t win the pennant in 1946, they still boasted a lineup that featured Joe DiMaggio, Phil Rizzuto, Charlie Keller and Tommy Heinrich. Facing the Yankees on that historic night were the Washington Senators, who sent pitcher Dutch Leonard to the hill. Leonard was the star under the lights, pitching a complete game win holding the Yankees to one run and six hits over nine innings. Leonard also drove in the winning run with a fourth inning single driving off Cuddles Marshall that drove in Cecil Travis. It was all Leonard would need to run his season record to 5-0 with the 2-1 victory.
Attached are two images from the New York Times the following day. On page 26 of the 44 page paper was a picture of the game being played under the lights with the caption "NEW YORK'S BASEBALL FANS WITNESSING THEIR FIRST NIGHT GAME AT THE STADIUM." Next to the picture were the headlines: "LEONARD, SENATORS, SUBDUES YANKS, 2-1", "49,917 See Hurler Bat In Run That Wins First Night Game Ever Staged at Stadium." The article itself opened with the following statement that was indicative of the times, "They turned night time into day at Yankee Stadium last night and from a scientific point of view, it was an unqualified success." Certainly big news in 1946.
This offered Official American League William Harridge baseball was the very ball used for the last out in the 2-1 Washington victory. Obtained directly from the family of Dutch Leonard, this baseball displays outstanding use. Leonard inscribed on this baseball in bold black ink “Last Ball of Game 1st Yankee Night Game Beat New York 2-1-6 hits 5th win 1946”. The ball is in good condition and there are several marks on the ball consistent with game use. This baseball comes with a LOA from Dan Leonard, the son of Emil “Dutch” Leonard, who states that ‘This ball came from the estate of my father, the late Emil John “Dutch” Leonard”. There is also a LOA from JSA (Z60521) who authenticate that the handwriting on this baseball is from Dutch Leonard.