A treasure trove of autographed baseballs from a single collector is hitting the block at Hindman’s Having a Ball Auction in Chicago. With over 570 lots on offer, the auction boasts an impressive array of baseballs autographed by some of the game's greatest players, including Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente, along with other rare signatures from baseball Hall of Famers.
James Smith, the Director of Sports Memorabilia at Hindman, expressed enthusiasm about the breadth and depth of the collection, noting it as one of the most extensive and exciting that the auction house has ever brought forward.
A standout piece expected to garner significant interest is a baseball signed by the 1934 New York Yankees, notable for being Babe Ruth's last year with the team. The ball, adorned with signatures from Ruth, his famed teammate Lou Gehrig, and other Hall of Famers like Earle Combs and Tony Lazzeri, comes with authentication letters from PSA and Beckett Authentication Services, guaranteeing its provenance.
The auction also features a unique ball from the deadball era, signed by a diverse group including Cy Young and the first baseball commissioner, Kennesaw "Mountain" Landis. This ball's rarity is enhanced by the signatures of Mrs. Christy Mathewson and Mrs. John J. McGraw, making it an extraordinary collector's item, complete with a letter of authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services.
Additional highlights include a high-grade 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers team-signed ball, a 1957 Milwaukee Braves World Series championship ball, and a 1972 National League All-Star team ball signed by luminaries such as Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron. Collectors can also find signed team balls from the 1930 and 1932 Philadelphia Athletics, featuring legends like Jimmie Foxx and Lefty Grove.
The Having a Ball timed online auction is currently open for bids via Hindman’s website and Live Auctioneers, with the lots set to close sequentially starting at 9 AM CT on November 29. The auction features a system where if a bid is placed in the final minute before a lot is set to close, the bidding period is extended by five minutes, ensuring all interested parties have a fair chance to participate. This extended bidding process does not affect the closing times of other lots.