"Gorgeous George," was his nickname, but what was most beautiful about Hall of Famer George Sisler was his magnificent swing, and outstanding hitting. Sisler obtained his Gorgeous George nickname from local newspaper stories when the handsome youth was a three-sport star in high school in Akron, Ohio. He starred in baseball as both a pitcher and big-hitting outfielder at the University of Michigan, and he made his Major League debut with the St. Louis Browns as a pitcher in 1915. Eventually, he became a full time first baseman, and he was a defensive star. He played with the Browns from 1915-22 and from 1924-27, with the Washington Senators in 1928, and with the Boston Braves from 1928-30. In 1920, he won the American League batting title with a .407 average. He won the AL batting crown again in 1922 when he hit .420 and was named the AL MVP. He had fine speed, and he led the American league in stolen bases four times. He was an amazing all-around player. Ty Cobb once said that Sisler was "the nearest thing to a perfect ballplayer" he had ever seen. In 1923, an attack of sinusitis caused severe vision problems, and Sisler sat out the season. Even though he resumed baseball play in 1924, Sisler's vision was never what it had been before his eye problems. Sisler had very high standards when it came to his hitting, and he described what it was like for him after he came back to play after his vision problems were most severe: "I never was a real good hitter again. I know I had one .345 year and one .340 year afterward. But it isn't what I'd call real good hitting." Even though his batting average suffered after his eye problems, Sisler batted .340 for his career. He became a player-manager for the St Louis Browns from 1924-26, and after he finished playing, in remained in baseball in a number of capacities, including work as an instructor and a scout. Sisler was one of several Dodger scouts who recommended that the Dodgers sign Jackie Robinson. With the Brooklyn Dodgers, he worked with many of the team's hitters, including Hall of Famers Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Jackie Robinson. Sisler signed the Reach Official American League Ball (Johnson) with a pen, in black ink. Sisler's signature is very faint, but still legible. The ball shows darkening because of age, and also has a few spots, and nicks, as well as a few areas in which the tiny parts of the skin of the ball have come off. The ball comes with a PSA/DNA Letter of Authenticity.