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Rare Hiram Bithorn Signed Baseball
Hiram Bithorn had returned to Puerto Rico the conquering hero when he signed this San Juan Senators ball in October 1943. His large swooping autograph on this Hutch "Regulation League Ball", surrounded by nine of his teammates, befits his achievement. Bithorn became the first Puerto Rican to play in the Major Leagues the previous summer, compiling a 9-14 record with the Chicago Cubs. Hiram has opened the gates for more than 200 Puerto Ricans to play in the majors, and the national stadium in San Juan bears his name. The ball's hide has tanned, but Bithorn's handwriting in blue ink (9/10) stands out proudly between the fastball seams with the date 10/24/43 written below his name. Bithorn led the league in shutouts with seven in '43 and had a 34-31career record with the Cubs and White Sox before arm trouble hit. In a sense, he is the Jackie Robinson of Puerto Rico, and a ball signed by him carries Hope Diamond value there. He died on New Year's Day in 1952 when he was shot dead by a policeman while attempting a comeback in the Mexican League. The circumstances were mysterious, but Bithorn's legacy endures.
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