Don Larsen will forever be remembered for pitching the first, and to this date, only perfect game in World Series history. On April 22, 1956, Larsen did something completely different – he hit a grand slam home run. The four RBI blast came in the 4th inning off Red Sox starter Frank Sullivan. This was the second of three home runs the Yanks would pin on Sullivan as they easily bested Boston 13-6 at Yankee Stadium.

     Larsen commemorated his grand slam by carefully lettering his feat on one of this baseball’s side panels that reads “GRAND SLAM HOME RUN OFF FRANK SULLIVAN YANKEES 13, RED SOX 6. APRIL 22, ’56 NEW YORK”. Larsen was a decent hitting pitcher throughout his career as he maintained a .242 average and hit 14 career home runs and this was Larsen’s only career grand slam. The manufacturer and model of ball cannot be determined, but this is was THE ball Larsen hit.

     Adding to the prestige of this baseball are the 36 members of the World Champion Yankees that signed this ball in neat blue ballpoint pen, including Larsen himself. Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, Casey Stengel, Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford, Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra have signed, along with Elston Howard, Jim Konstanty, Billy Martin, Bill Richardson, Bob Turley, Tom Carroll, Irv Noren, Bill Skowron, Tom Morgan, Gil McDougald, Eddie Robinson, Johnny Kucks, Charlie Silvera, Hank Bauer, Jerry Coleman, Bob Cerv, Andy Carey, Bob Grim, Bill Hunter, Lou Skizas, Jerry Staley, Rip Coleman, Mickey McDermott, Tom Studivant, Joe Collins, Jerry Lumpe and coaches Frank Crosetti and Jim Turner. The ball’s surface has scuffs and abrasions, but the signatures atop this are overall crisp and clear. A light coat of shellack has been applied and the ball has a warm tone throughout. This milestone home run ball that features virtually every member of the Yankees ball club and it comes with an LOA from Don Larsen attesting that this was the home run ball he hit for his only career grand slam and a LOA from JSA (Z58575) for the signatures.

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