The brainchild of Arch Ward, sports editor of the Chicago Tribune, the 1933 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was envisioned as a one-time contest in conjunction with Chicago’s World Fair and the Windy City’s centennial. It was also designed to provide much needed financial relief and a morale boost to those citizens ravaged by The Great Depression. And what a boost it provided! For nearly a century the dubbed “Mid-Summer Classic” has been engrained into our national culture.

 

Of the 46 players, coaches and umpires who suited up that afternoon at Comiskey Park, a whopping 27 (58%) would eventually be enshrined into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The offered 1933 American League inaugural All-Star team-signed OAL Harridge baseball with (19) autographs showcases a dozen of them! This extraordinary blue-and-red stitched relic is coated by an even layer of period protectant. The uniform black steel-tip fountain pen etchings are beautifully arranged across the panels and minimally project (“8”) signature strengths throughout. Crowning the sphere is a majestic script authored by the mighty “Bambino” (who clubbed a home run in the game) spanning a lengthy 2-1/4” across the sweet spot! Subjects include:

 

Sweet Spot: Ruth (d.1948); West Panel: R. Ferrell, W. Ferrell, Simmons (d.1956), Cronin; East Panel: Crowder, Gomez, West, Lazzeri (clubhouse); North Panel: Grove, E. Collins (d.1951, coach), Gehrig (d.1941), Dickey; South Panel: Averill, Hildebrand, Chapman, Dykes, Foxx (d.1967) and Reverse Sweet Spot: Gehringer.

 

This museum quality piece which is penned by every player on the American League roster is graced by a full LOA from James Spence/JSA. Opening Bid $5,000.