LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 May Sports Sig. Auction #707  / 

19380

1971 Reggie Jackson All-Star Game Home Run Baseb

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Game Used Memorabilia Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
1971 Reggie Jackson All-Star Game Home Run Baseb
<B>1971 Reggie Jackson All-Star Game Home Run Baseball.</B></I> The recent sale at auction of the baseball hit by Babe Ruth to notch the first ever All-Star Game home run at the inaugural 1933 event for a price of $700,000 has fanned the flames of collecting interest in both historic home run balls and artifacts from the Midsummer Classic. Heritage is very pleased to cater to both of these collecting disciplines with the presentation of this very special sphere, blasted by the future Hall of Famer for what is universally considered to be the longest home run ever hit in an All-Star Game, and one of the longest of all time in competitive baseball.<BR><BR> Mathematical equations far more complicated than any we could possibly understand, much less convey here, have estimated that this famous blast would have traveled 532 feet had it not struck an electrical transformer mounted to the roof of Tiger Stadium some one hundred feet above the playing field. This July 13, 1971 wallop of a Dock Ellis fastball ranks second only to Mr. October's three-home run 1978 World Series Game Six performance in the legacy of this home run hero. Many baseball experts now point to this homer as Jackson's "arrival," his notice to the sports world that he was a legend in the making. Clearly Reggie himself understood the importance of that memorable event, as a vintage notation on the OAL (Cronin) ball, signed just days after the All-Star Game, attests:<BR><BR> "July 12, 1971, Pinch-hit for Vida in 2nd inning of the 1971 All-Star Game, Doc Ellis, This is one of the biggest thrills of my career. An All time HR at the All-Time game. A.L. - 6, N.L. - 4, Reggie Jackson."<BR><BR> While Jackson's date, spelling and terminology misses the mark here, the inscription provides the most ironclad provenance possible for this historic artifact. We also include a very detailed notarized letter of provenance from the consignor, and old friend and business associate of Jackson's who acquired the ball personally from him. He notes that it was Willie Mays who retrieved the ball after it dropped back to the outfield grass following its wild ride from Reggie's bat. He writes, in part, "As I recall, Jackson visited my office a few days following the 1971 All Star game. He said, 'I have a present for you,' and handed me this ball. He then retold the experience of hitting the home run. I don't think either of us could have fathomed this ball's significance at the time."<BR><BR> Today, however, the significance of this special piece is crystal clear, and it will surely rate among the most significant game used baseballs to reach the auction block this season. We must note that Reggie's vintage inscription has faded to some degree, registering now at an average strength of about 3/10. Of course this has not the slightest effect upon its importance as the ball that recorded one of the most famous home runs of the post-war era. <I>LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Balls, Pucks, etc., Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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