Posted By:
Jon CanfieldThere are 27 total signatures including Mantle and Berra on the sweetspot, and other notables on the side panel including Elston Howard, Dickey and Stengel. The ball contains not only the team, but also coaches (Dickey, etc.). There is one illegible signature as PSA notes and although I can't make it out for sure, it may be Billy Martin (please see the photo with the illegible signature circled in red and an authenticated Martin for comparison).
PSA/DNA notes the ball grades between 6 and 9 with medium toning. I would say this is very accurate. Mantle is one of the strongest signatures and appears boldly on the sweet spot. PSA/DNA had graded the Mantle signature a 7 but I truly believe it is even stronger than that. It is very very bold. Stengel may be one of the strongest signatures on the ball as well and is certainly a 7 or 8. Elston Howard is on the lighter side although very legible. I would grade his signature a 4-5. Ford is very strong - a 7 or so. Berra is also strong and I would grade him a 6-7.
The ball, itself, is a Wilson official league ball and not an OAL baseball. There is a few holes in a pattern on the Stengel panel. I believe this is a pattern as it appears to be in a circle and not due to some damage on the ball. Also, the signatures around the pattern appear to have been signed over the pattern also leading me to believe this was on the ball before signed. The pattern does NOT go through Stengel's signature at all.
Here are the signatures on the ball: Bauer, Berra, Byrne, Carey, Cerv, J. Coleman, Dickey, Ford, Grim, E. Howard, Konstanty, Kucks, Larsen, Leja, Mantle, McDougald, Morgan, Noren, Robinson, Silvera, Skowron, Stengel, Sturdivant, Turley, Turner, Wiesler and illegible signature (Martin? - see scan).
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.
Price is $730 delivered and insured.
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