924501
Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Dwight David Eisenhower, 1890-1969. General of the Army; Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, World War II; 34th President of the United States, 1953-1961. Single-signed official American League baseball, signed in person, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
This is a virtually mint condition, unused game ball that still has its original box. It bears the stamped signature of American League President Joe Cronin.
Eisenhower signed this ball in the clubhouse for Washington Senators pitcher Jim Duckworth before the Senators' game on September 26, 1964, against the New York Yankees at D.C. Stadium, which would later become RFK Stadium, in Washington. Accompanying the ball are a copy of a newspaper clipping with a photograph of Eisenhower at the ballpark and Duckworth's signed statement detailing how Eisenhower signed the ball for him.
Eisenhower was a big baseball fan. As a teenager in Abilene, Kansas, he played center field on the high school team while his brother, Milton, played first base. Later, as a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point, he played on the jr. varsity team, along with Omar N. Bradley, but failed to make the varsity team. ”Not making the baseball team at West Point was one of the greatest disappointments of my life,” he said, ”maybe my greatest.” As President, he attended major league games as much as he could. According to Baseball Almanac, while in office he attended 12 Senators games in Washington, D.C., and the first game of the 1956 World Series in Brooklyn.
This is a beautiful, white baseball. It has a hint of soiling around some of the stitches, likely from handling over the years, and a couple of unobtrusive scuff marks that do not affect the signature and that we mention only for the sake of accuracy. Eisenhower has signed in blue ballpoint pen. The signature rates 8-9 on a scale of 10, and the ball itself rates a 9.
The ball comes in a display holder along with Duckworth's baseball card, which he has signed. The original Reach box, on which Duckworth has noted “Eisenhower Ball,” is present along with two additional signed photos of Duckworth, one of him individually in uniform and one of the 1964 Washington Senators.
Baseballs signed by Eisenhower are very popular and not easily found. We have found none currently offered for sale, and balls in this condition have brought over $10,000 at auction. This ball has a strong blue signature and is in very fine to extra fine condition, with impeccable provenance.
This item has been sold.
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