The 1926 Fall Classic was contested between Rogers Hornsby and his St. Louis Cardinals against the Murderers Row of the New York Yankees. The Cardinals featured a lineup with Hall of Famers Hornsby, Jim Bottomley, Bill Southworth, and Chick Hafey, while also trotting out 1926 National League MVP Bob O’Farrell. The Yankees, meanwhile, featured a lineup with Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, bolstered by a sturdy pitching staff. Somewhat surprisingly, the Cardinals’ pitching staff held the Yankees in check, emerging from the seven-game series with the championship. The Cardinals pitching staff were the heroes in this series, as Grover Cleveland “Pete” Alexander and Jesse Haines each finished with a 2-0 record.

Offered here is an Official American League Ban Johnson stamped baseball that has been signed by eight players from that 1926 World Series. The featured signature on this ball is that of Babe Ruth, whose distinctive signature has been signed in black pen across the sweet spot. The south panel has the signatures of Hall of Famer Billy Southworth, along with Bob O’Farrell and Mike Donlin. The west panel has the signatures of Hall of Famer Grover Cleveland Alexander, Les Bell (signed “Lester R. Bell”), Hall of Famer Jim Bottomley (in blue pen) and Bill Sherdel. This ball displays minor toning with strong signatures given its age. A great early 20th century ball tied to the 1926 World Series and this comes with a LOA from Beckett Authentication for the signatures, plus a handwritten letter from Lester Bell dated July 31, 1985, who states in his letter that his signature on this ball is his and that “all except Babe Ruth and Mike Donlin, belong to the 1926 St. Louis Cardinals”.

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