Lot # 21: Exceptional Pie Traynor Single-Signed "Honus Wagner Co." Baseball with Original Box - Full JSA LOA

Presented is an exquisite example of a baseball signed by Hall of Fame third baseman Pie Traynor across the sweet spot. Traynor's signature has been scripted in dark ink, and he has added the personalization "To Fredie, From" preceding his name. Pie Traynor was widely considered the finest fielding third baseman of his era. He was so adept in the field that most fans today are unaware that he finished his career with a .320 lifetime average and twice batted over .350 in a season. Traynor, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1948, died in 1972, years before collecting single-signed baseballs of Hall of Famers became extremely popular with collectors. As a result, Traynor single-signed balls are scarce. This is just the third we have ever offered, and we cannot recall having seen many others, especially high-grade examples such as this. The offered baseball is, appropriately, a Honus Wagner Co. Official League baseball. Wagner was the star of the Pirates prior to Traynor's arrival, but the two would partner later in life on a sporting goods store. The baseball remains in Excellent to Mint condition and is ideally accompanied by the original box (the bottom panel is neatly separated). This is a remarkable surviving example of this particularly scarce and desirable Hall of Fame signed baseball! Full LOA from James Spence/JSA.