Gerald Ford served as the 38th President of the United States and was the 40th Vice President and holds the distinction of being the only President and Vice President to serve in both offices without ever being elected to either office during a general election. Tapped by President Richard Nixon to serve as Vice President after the resignation of Spiro Agnew, the Republican Ford then took the oath of office after President Nixon resigned after the Watergate Scandal. Ford served out the remainder of Nixon’s term and earned the Republican nomination for President in 1976 and lost to Democrat Jimmy Carter in the general election.

Presented here is Official National League Leonard S. Coleman Jr. baseball signed and inscribed with the Presidential Oath of Office by the 38th President of the United States, Gerald Ford. A black “RAWLINGS” stamp is located on the east panel of the baseball, and “CUSHIONED CORK CENTER RO-N” is stamped in black on the west panel. Ford inscribed “I, Gerald Rudolph Ford, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve” on the east, sweet spot, and west panel of the baseball. Ford went on to inscribe “Protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America.” on the south panel of the baseball. Ford also inscribed “The White House August 9, 1974” on the north panel. All of the inscriptions are bright, bold, feature no bleeding, and were done with a blue ballpoint pen. The baseball features some evidence of toning and comes with a Letter of Provenance from Bobby Winkles and an LOA from Beckett Authentication (AA06977) for the signature and inscription.

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