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Lot # 537: Bill Veeck Signed Baseball (PSA)

Starting Bid: $300.00

Bids: 7 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer Classic 2022",
which ran from 8/28/2022 7:00 PM to
9/17/2022 10:00 PM



Addendum (9/13/22 - 7:07 pm)  Please Note: According to PSA, there are indications of signature(s) and/or inscription (s) removals throughout the baseball.

Presented is a signed baseball from a baseball maverick and innovator, Hall of Famer Bill Veeck. He grew up in a baseball family, as his father was an owner of the Chicago Cubs. Veeck, who disdained wearing ties in an era of formal dress for executives, was known as "Sports Shirt Bill." He was an owner of three American League clubs: Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, and Chicago White Sox. As the owner of Cleveland, Veeck broke the American League "Color Barrier" when he signed Larry Doby in 1947, only months after Jackie Robinson's debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Veeck also signed baseball immortal pitcher Satchel Paige in 1948, the first African American pitcher in the American League, and Veeck's Indians won the 1948 World Series. Veeck was famous for stunts. In 1951, he secretly signed Eddie Gaedel, who stood only 3'7" tall. In a surprise move, Gaedel was actually sent up to pinch hit in a real game on August 19th of that year and he took four pitches for balls and walked to first base and then into baseball history as the shortest player to ever play Major League baseball. Another Veeck stunt was on July 12, 1979, when he owned the Chicago White Sox. The event was called "Disco Demolition Night," and a crate of disco records was set to be blown up on the field between games of a twilight double header against the Detroit Tigers. Fans were entitled to admission for 98 cents if they presented a disco record. Many of the fans snuck into the stadium and many of the disco records were not even collected from the paying customers. Many fans sent the disco records flying towards the field as flying saucers, and when the crate of records was blown up, hordes of fans rushed the field, damaging it so much that Chicago forfeited the second game to the Tigers. The signed baseball is an Official American League Ball (Brown). In tiny handwriting, by an unknown hand, is "Signed by Bill Veeck - Chicago - Wrigley - 1985?)." Veeck's signature is in black thin-tipped marker or pen, on a side panel. The ball shows overall toning because of age and shows some fading of the printing, such as where "Official Ball American League Bobby Brown Pres." is stamped as well as on some other printing. Overall, the ball is in good condition and the bold Bill Veeck signature is still clear. It's a fine memento, signed by the rebel owner, an American original. The signed ball comes with a full PSA Letter of Authenticity.

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