1954 New York Yankees Team-Signed Baseball With Mantle and Letter From Team - Full PSA/DNA

• Sold For: $568
• Year: 1954
• Auction: 2014 December
• Lot #: 8
• Auction Category: Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

So dominant were the New York Yankees during their remarkable 1949-1964 run of 14 pennants in 16 seasons, that even when they did not advance to the Fall Classic, they remained a well-oiled machine to which also-rans aspired to imitate. The 1954 campaign marked a brief interruption in the pinstripers’ championship run, despite the club’s impressive win total of 103. This baseball is autographed by (26) members of that vaunted runner-up roster. The medium-toned OAL Harridge orb has scattered surface abrasions and ballpoint pennings averaging (“5-6”) quality. Keys include: Bauer, Berra, Ford, Mantle, Reynolds, Rizzuto, Skowron and Slaughter. Full photo LOA from PSA/DNA. More on our website.Sweet Spot: Berra (“4-5” strength) and Reynolds; North Panel: Slaughter (“6” strength), Cerv, Bauer, Sain, Lopat and Silvera; South Panel: Konstanty, Shallock, Miranda, Ford (“4” strength), Branca, Morgan and Byrd; West Panel: Mantle (“4” strength), Collins, Skowron, Byrd (repeat signature) and Grim; East Panel: Noren, Coleman, E. Robinson, Rizzuto (“5-6” strength), McDougald, McDonald and Carey.Note: a ballpoint notation of “1955” (in an unknown hand) resides atop the east panel. This was errantly rendered likely at the time the ball was presented. The roster dates to 1954, although the ball was given to a fan by Hall of Fame announcer Mel Allen in 1955. The original typewritten letter accompanies (along with the cloth pouch and mailing envelope). Typewritten on an 8-1/2 x 11” sheet of New York Yankees letterhead, the correspondence is dated “August 30, 1955” and is addressed to an Addison, New York resident. It reads (in full):”Mel asked me to send you this ball. It’s a little old, as you can tell by the Allie Reynolds, Ralph Branca, etc., but these are the actual autographs, not one of the printed balls and he thought you’d like it.The foul balls Mel sometimes catches are all returned to the club for use during batting practice.Hope you like this one and with very best wishes, I amSincerely,(signed) Gail EvelethSecretary to Mel Allen”