This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/19/2016
In 1937, America was struggling to escape one crisis while staring down the inevitability of another. A near decade long depression had finally begun showing signs of receding, only to relapse into a recession that would raise the unemployment rate to 19%. In Europe, Germany's newly-formed alliances with Italy and Japan were the precursor to an invasion of Poland and the start of World War II. In a time of ongoing concern for the economy at home and military action abroad, baseball fans turned to the start of each new season as a symbol of American resolve and a call for unity. As with virtually each season since the tradition was adopted by William Taft in 1910, the President of the United States was on hand at Griffith Stadium to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The featured item is an incredible piece of American history that expands well beyond the realm of what we consider "baseball memorabilia." Signed on an Official American League (Harridge) baseball, the black fountain pen inscription on the sweet spot reads "For Clark Griffith from Franklin D. Roosevelt" and is dated. The date appears to read April 29, 1937 but is more likely to be April 19, 1937, the day FDR threw out the first pitch to open the 1937 baseball season in Washington D. C. at Griffith Stadium. FDR's presidential journals show that on April 29th, he was traveling through Mississippi and Louisiana and would unlikely have personalized a baseball to the owner of the Washington Senators on that day. Furthermore, records indicate that FDR attended 10 baseball games at Griffith Stadium during his administration, each to throw out the first pitch for either a season opener, All-Star game or World Series. Therefore, it would stand to reason that April 19th is the actual date, tossing the ball as the ceremonial first pitch before signing and presenting it to the team's owner. The markings of the Reach trademark were utilized from 1934-1939, confirming the time period. While we cannot confirm that this is the actual baseball that FDR tossed for the ceremonial first pitch, there are strong indications that that is the case. Regardless, the featured ball has been PSA/DNA authenticated as a genuine Franklin D. Roosevelt signed baseball, dated and personalized to Washington Senators' owner and Hall of Famer Clark Griffith, making it an extraordinary item worthy of the Smithsonian, but available for any world-class collection. Full Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA and JSA.