Holiday Auction Closing December 7 ,2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/8/2019
Offered is a Casey Stengel single-signed used baseball, with the inscription “1965”. The former New York Yankees and New York Mets manager has signed his name, and the inscription, in blue pen at the right of the sweet spot on the used baseball, which has significant brown dirt stains. Stengel managed the Yankees from 1949 to 1960, during which time the Yanks won the World Series five consecutive times (1949–1953), the only time that has been achieved. Stengel was hired by the newly formed New York Mets as their first manager, a post he held from 1962 to 1965. He promoted the team tirelessly, as well as managing it to a 40–120 win–loss record, the most losses of any 20th century MLB team. The team finished last all four years he managed it but was boosted by considerable support from fans. Stengel retired in 1965 and became a fixture at baseball events for the rest of his life. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1966. This item comes with a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication (A25487).