Offered is what we believe to be the earliest Albert Pujols single-signed ball in the hobby and possibly the only known example to feature his full signature. This ball dates to Pujols' 1999 season with the Maple Woods Community College baseball team and was signed two years prior to his Major League debut with the Cardinals in 2001. Our consignor's son was both a good friend and teammate of Pujols with Maple Woods, which is how he came to know Pujols and obtain this ball.

The "Diamond" brand baseball has been inscribed "Jose A. Pujols #33" in blue ink across the sweet spot, with the signature grading 7/10. (Pujols wore number "33" with the Maple Woods Centaurs in 1999 and the ball is accompanied by a 1999 team roster sheet confirming the uniform number.) Many fans are probably unaware that Alberto is Pujols' middle name, not his first. We are not sure when or why he began using Albert as his first name, but it was obviously earlier than 1999, because the accompanying roster sheet lists him as "Albert Pujols." Our consignor relates that he doesn't remember why Pujols chose to sign the ball using his full name, but he didn't think much of it at the time. In rediscovering the ball just recently, he noticed the full name signature and realized that this might be a one-of-a-kind Pujols single-signed ball. One of the greatest hitters in baseball history, Pujols is the only player to win three MVP Awards, three batting titles, amass 3,000 or more hits, and hit 700 or more home runs. With those achievements on his resume, it will be interesting to see if Pujols joins Mariano Rivera as just the second player to be elected unanimously to the Baseball Hall of Fame. 

In addition to the team roster sheet, the ball is accompanied by four original photos of Pujols (one posing with our consignor) while he was a member of Maple Woods in 1999 (Pujols only played one season of college baseball before signing with the Cardinals), and two 1999 baseball cards of Pujols issued by the team (one of the photos of Pujols included in this lot was used to produce one of the cards). According to our consignor, this ball was used during a Maple Woods game and signed by Pujols afterwards. As such it displays soiling associated with game use, as well as a few abrasions. Full LOA from JSA. (Please note: PSA also examined this ball and declined to issue an LOA).