Auction Item Details
Lot 29
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Lot Number: 29
Description: Important President Dwight D. Eisenhower single signed Opening Day Ceremonial First Pitch baseball with related pen (Ken Wood provenance)(Photographic provenance). As a continued American tradition, President Dwight D. Eisenhower was in attendance of the Opening Day game for the Washington Senators on April 16, 1953. Customary to that tradition, the President would throw out a ceremonial first "pitch" onto the field with a mad scramble by Washington players to catch the treasured orb. Appropriately, the Senators' left fielder adeptly leapt into the air and caught the President's pitch. As often occurred after the fact, Ken Wood took the ball to the President for his signature to which Eisenhower kindly obliged penning a strong blue ink autograph to the sweet spot. Understandably, the ball was cherished by Ken Wood for many decades retaining it within its original Reach paper packaging (included) and stored within a bank vault as noted within Ken Wood's handwritten letter of provenance. The signature presents beautifully rating 7/8 out of 10. Amazingly, also included is the original pen which was used by the President to sign the baseball which features impressed titling of the date, game, and "Used to Autograph First Pitch by President Eisenhower". The metal potion of the body of the pen is inscribed to Ken Wood from "Doc Wingfield". In addition its supportive provenance the baseball also includes a black and white photograph of the President with Ken Wood autographing the offered ball...with the offered pen! President Eisenhower single signature baseballs of quality are incredibly rare with this example undoubtedly presenting as the most substantiated and important of the elite surviving population. Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA (7 NM), Ken Wood handwritten and signed letter of provenance, original Reach baseball bag (tattered), original pen to sign the ball, and photograph of President Eisenhower signing the ball for Ken Wood. Also includes signed letter of provenance from Geddy Lee with this lot featured in Geddy's forthcoming book "72 Stories from the Collection of Geddy Lee". A signed copy of the book will accompany the winning bid of this lot: Ball: NM, Signature: NMEstimated Price Range: ($40,000-$60,000)
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