Former New York Yankees pitcher Ralph Terry was the star of the 1962 World Series, where he recorded a 2-1 record with a 1.80 ERA, including a four-hit shoutout in Game 7 against the San Francisco Giants to give the Yankees their second straight World Series title and 20th as a franchise. During the Game 7 victory, Tony Kubek gave New York its only run on a double-play ground out in the top of the fifth inning and Terry did the rest. Holding the lineup that had Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Orlando Cepeda and Felipe Alou to no runs and four hits in a deciding game made Terry the easy choice for World Series MVP.

Things did get interesting in the bottom of the ninth inning as Matty Alou, who was pinch-hitting for Billy O’Dell, led off for the Giants with a bunt single towards second base. Terry responded by striking out Felipe Alou and Chuck Hiller, but Mays then lined a double to right field that put runners on second, which brought up Willie McCovey to try and win the series for San Francisco. McCovey got good wood on the ball, but hit it right at second baseman Bobby Richardson, who secured the catch and the title for the Yankees.

Offered here is the very ball that was used to end the hard-fought 1962 World Series. This ball is an official National League Warren Giles stamped baseball that displays outstanding use. There are many game used baseballs in the hobby celebrating individual milestones, but very few that can actually be attributed to the last out of a World Series like this orb. The ball has the rubbed-down dirt marks and other abrasions, consistent with game use. The side panel has the Spalding stamp. This ball has been displayed at the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York and a letter from the Hall of Fame to Ralph Terry dated October 30, 1992 accompanies this ball. The letter reads “THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME AND MUSEUM, INC. GRATEFULLY ACCEPT YOUR GENEROUS GIFT OF Ball which was the final out of the 1962 World Series between the Giants and Yankees; ball was hit by Willie McCovey off Ralph Terry straight to Bobby Richardson with two men on base, to preserve a 1-0 Yankee victory, and the World Series 4 games to 3.” There is also a LOA from Ralph Terry, who states that this ball is the last out ball of the 1962 World Series and has been part of his personal collection.

Auction Notepad