A treasure trove of autographed baseballs is set to go under the hammer at Hindman’s Having a Ball Auction in Chicago. This highly anticipated event features over 570 lots, showcasing an impressive array of baseballs signed 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 his excitement about the breadth and depth of the collection. He described it as one of the most extensive and thrilling collections that the auction house has ever presented.
One of the standout pieces in the auction is a baseball signed by the iconic 1934 New York Yankees team, notable for being Babe Ruth’s last year with the team. This historic ball features signatures from Ruth, his legendary teammate Lou Gehrig, as well as other Hall of Famers like Earle Combs and Tony Lazzeri. It comes with authentication letters from PSA and Beckett Authentication Services, guaranteeing its authenticity and provenance.
Another fascinating item on offer is a unique ball from the deadball era, signed by a diverse group of individuals, including Cy Young and the first baseball commissioner, Kennesaw “Mountain” Landis. What makes this ball even more exceptional are the signatures of Mrs. Christy Mathewson and Mrs. John J. McGraw, making it an extraordinary collector’s item. It also comes with a letter of authenticity from Beckett Authentication Services.
The auction features several other highlights, including 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. Furthermore, collectors can 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 through Hindman’s website and Live Auctioneers. The lots are scheduled to close sequentially, starting at 9 AM CT on November 29. To ensure fair participation, the auction features an extended bidding system. If a bid is placed in the final minute before a lot is set to close, the bidding period is extended by five minutes. This ensures that all interested parties have an equal chance to place their bids. Importantly, this extended bidding process does not affect the closing times of other lots.
Collectors and sports enthusiasts alike won’t want to miss this extraordinary opportunity to acquire autographed baseballs from some of the greatest players in the history of the game. With a wide range of rare signatures and authenticated pieces, Hindman’s Having a Ball Auction promises to be an event to remember.