Back Lot Number: 338  
     

Lot 338
 
Description: Significant June 21, 1950 Joe DiMaggio 2,000th hit baseball. As of June 21, 1950, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Joe DiMaggio were the only New York Yankees players who had compiled 2,000 hits or more. The offered baseball was knocked for a single in a night game played in Cleveland against the Indians. DiMaggio had collected his 1,999th hit in the same game during the third inning. Number 2,000 would come in the seventh inning as a single to the left of Indians shortstop Ray Boone. The ball was then relayed back in to pitcher Marino Pieretti who stopped the game and presented the ball to DiMaggio at first base. It was then entrusted to coach Bill Dickey for safe keeping until the end of the game. After the game, DiMaggio was quoted in part as follows: "What makes me happiest about it is that the pair of hits I got last night helped us win a ball game. The next thing is the fact that it happened in this town. My biggest thrill in baseball came during that 56 game hitting streak I had in 1941. That was halted hereàSo IÆm feeling good about the fact that my 2,000th hit will go down in the records as coming here. Maybe itÆs screwy thinking but it seems to even up things. IÆve tried to save a lot of them [baseballs] from memorable occasions for little JoeàThis one, however IÆm keeping under lock and key. Before we left New York I told little Joe I would keep it for him and itÆs something IÆm bound to do." The ball itself is a light to moderately toned William Harridge American League ball with appropriate stampings (1946-50 period). The ball exhibits evident usage including a pronounced area of scuffing on one panel from impact; ô2,000ö is printed in period blue ink on the sweet spot. Under magnification, the 2,000 notation is clearly of the period with appropriate æcheckingÆ to the leather which has separated with the ink. Included with the ball are several period newspaper accounts of the game from DiMaggioÆs personal collection and an original black and white photograph picturing Joe kissing the ball in the locker room. In addition to the other DiMaggio historical event baseballs within this auction, the offered example ranks among the most significant of its type to have been offered with unimpeachable, direct provenance: EX
Sold For: $26,000.00

 
Estimated Price: ($20,000.00-$30,000.00)  
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