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1956 Game Used Baseball from Don Larsen's Perfect Game Signed by Larsen and Maglie Right After The Game
This staggering find may be the single most collectible artifact from what may be the single most famous game in baseball history -- a ball from Don Larsen's epic perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series, signed not only by Larsen but by hard-luck losing pitcher Sal Maglie. Moreover, both are documented to have signed it immediately after the game. Balls abound from that immortal day, as balls with each of these heroes' signatures, but this may well be a one of a kind piece, with untold market value. For decades, the precious horsehide remained hidden from the public, in the possession of former pro basketball player Harry "Moose" Miller, who on October 8, 1956 was at Yankee Stadium for the game, a pivotal one with the Series tied 2-2. Despite an 11-5 record that season, Larsen had been rousted in Game 2 in the 2nd inning, while Maglie -- '' the "Barber of Brooklyn" famed for giving hitters "close shaves" -- had hurled a complete-game victory in Game 1. On this crisp autumn afternoon, Maglie was superb, but Larsen was immaculate. Given a 2-0 lead in part by a Mickey Mantle homer in the 4th, he breezed through the Dodger order with his unorthodox no-windup delivery. The only thing approaching a hit off him was a scorching line drive by Gil Hodges that Mantle ran down in Death Valley and made a backhand stab for the out. Throwing but 97 pitches, he fanned Dale Mitchell for the final out as bedlam erupted at the Stadium and Yogi Berra leaped into his arms. Now, enter Moose Miller, who had played one season in the old BAA in 1946-47 with the Toronto Huskies. Miller was close friends with one of the umpires who worked the game, Tom Gorman, who handed him the ball bare minutes afterward. Miller, who also knew many of the players, was then able to obtain the protagonists' signatures when he visited each locker room. Larsen's is under Maglie's on the same panel undeneath the Spalding stamp, both in the same blue ink and grading 7 out of a possible 10. The ONL (Giles) ball is smoothly toned a light tan and has 3 circular dark brown spots, 2 of which are small and 1 barely visible on the seams, though none affect the signatures. A ball of distinction that, as Larsen was for one day, is peerless. Comes with a detailed LOA from Moose Miller and one from none other than Don Larsen himself.
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