October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
Baseball had been an exhibition sport at the Olympics since 1964. In Los Angeles for the 1984 games, baseball ascended to Demonstration Sport, the sports’ first inclusion into the international competition. Eight countries participated. While no medals were handed out, Japan beat the U.S., 6 – 3, in the final game on August 7. These two Haiti-manufactured Rawlings RO-O baseballs are blue stamped with the L.A. Olympic Committee emblem and on the sweet spot “The Game Ball Games of the XXII Olympiad Los Angeles 1984.” The stitches are alternating red and blue. The signed baseball is white and holds the signatures of first baseman Mark McGwire (who debuted for the Oakland Athletics in 1986 and spent 16 seasons – most with St. Louis - hitting 583 homeruns and driving in 1,414 runs) and RHP Mike Dunne (who played five seasons in MLB). The signatures are in blue ink and grade 8 – 9. The unsigned ball is intact and has blemishes to the sweet spot and “Rawlings” stamps. The signatures have been authenticated by PSA/DNA (#B40984).