This ball is an early turn of the century American League Baseball, Ban Johnson Commissioner, and is the style of Reach Official A.L. Ball that was used in American League games from 1913-1917. This historic baseball is signed by, among others, Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Harry Heilman. The following players who were with the Tigers or Tigers organization in 1914/1915 also signed the ball: Oscar Vitt, Donie Bush, Howard Ehmke, Jean Duboc, and Hooks Dauss. As is common with 100+-year-old signed baseball, the signatures have faded somewhat over time but all are legible. The Ty Cobb and Harry Heilman are the boldest signatures while the Babe Ruth signature is very legible, written over the Reach logo. The ball has surface wear and appears to be game used, with an abrasion that looks like a bat mark.

The ball is also dated and the date is significant. We believe that the ball is dated "Oct 6, 1915" though JSA feels the date is "Oct 6, 1914." To this point, PSA was non-committal regarding the last digit being a '4' or a '5'. WHY IS OCTOBER 6, 1915 SO IMPORTANT? All one needs to do is look at the Red Sox schedule from 1915 to realize its significance. Going into October 6, 1915 the Red Sox were 1/2 game in front of the Detroit Tigers in the race for the American League pennant and a trip to the World Series. Meanwhile, the second place Tigers had already finished their season 3 days earlier and their season ended with a total of 100 wins. Thus, on October 6th, the Red Sox needed 101 wins to win out the title as they entered into a double header against the New York Yankees. The Red Sox won the first game putting them up by 1 game and clinching a tie. With a win in the second game the Red Sox would clinch the pennant and secure their place in the World Series. In the second game, Babe Ruth in his first full season in the majors, would take the mound for the Red Sox against the team he would eventually elevate to the top of the baseball world. How did the Babe do in one of his earliest pressure games of his career and a World Series birth on the line? Ruth pitched a complete game, giving up 2 earned runs and striking out six Yankees. He also hit an RBI double in the game and scored a run to lead the Sox to a 4-2 victory and the American League title. It seems more likely to us that the date on the ball represents that day in 1915, and that several Tigers were on hand to see if they would make it to the World Series or be eliminated. A magical event and a magical baseball.

Whether the date is 1914 or 1915, we have a very special and historical baseball! If it is from 1914 it is one of the earliest known signed balls of Babe Ruth. If the last digit is a '5' and the ball is from 1915 (which in our opinion is evident on the photographs) then we have a ball from the day Ruth clinched his first ever World Series birth and the ball is very likely game used based on its condition. Both authentication companies clearly agree that all of the signatures are genuine and that this is one rare and historically significant ball! Either way, this is truly a historic baseball that the winning bidder will own. Comes with a full letter of authenticity from PSA/DNA and full LOA from JSA.

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