Considered by some to be the greatest professional tennis player of all time, Ellsworth Vines Jr. (all of 19 years of age) signed this thinning, but solid tennis ball in 1931. At this signing, Elly (as he was affectionately called) was in a dark, but inspired moment in his athletic career. Having lost at Seabright, New Jersey, and the U.S. Open in 1930, he returned to the east coast in 1931 from his native California to prove himself. Weeks after this signing, he went on to win the U.S. Open, and followed that with a Wimbledon victory, another U.S. Open win, and a #1 World Ranking in 1932. Signed on the side, “Ellsworth Vines Jr. 7/5/’31,” the autograph grades an 8/10 on a vintage Spalding ball (EX) with "1931” stamped above the Spalding logo. Hall of Famer Vines also went on to play professional golf, and died in March of 1994.