This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/22/2018
Aside from his miraculous .345 career batting average (#6 on the all-time list), Hall of Famer Tris Speaker was one of the best base runners in the history of the sport. Because of the great instincts that matched his blazing speed, opposing teams were always on guard when "The Grey Eagle" stepped to the plate. But that usually came to no avail as the 1912 American League Most Valuable Player routinely stretched a single into a two-bagger. When his 22-year career was over after the 1928 season, Tris Speaker was the all-time leader with 792 career doubles, a mark that still stands 90 years later, as well as ranked #6 with 222 career triples. Speaker made three trips to the World Series (twice with Boston - 1912 and 1915 and once with Cleveland in 1920) and won them all. Presented is Tris Speaker's autograph on this OAL (Bernard) baseball, produced in 1928 based on the markings of the out of the box fresh Reach stamp. That was Speaker's final season as he had joined Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics. Despite a roster that included himself, Mickey Cochrane, Al Simmons, Ty Cobb, Jimmie Foxx, Eddie Collins and Lefty Grove, the A's were bested by the Yankees for the AL pennant. Known for his graceful signature, the penning provided for this clean orb certainly doesn't disappoint; in fact, it's one of the best in the hobby. The steel-tip fountain pen signature exhibits such bold blue ink that you'd swear it's being amplified by a layer of shellac, but there's no lacquer covering to be found here. Quite simply it's among the finest examples ever offered for public sale. Double authenticated, earning an LOA from JSA as well as a letter from PSA/DNA, who grades the signature an 8 and grants an overall grade of 7.