Lot # 1137: Richard Nixon and Ted Williams Dual-Signed 1969 Washington Senators Opening Day First Pitch 8x10 Color Photograph - Full JSA LOA

First-year president Richard Nixon and first-year Washington Senators manager Ted Williams are the focus of this dual-signed 8" x 10" photograph. The scene is RFK Stadium on April 7, 1969, at the start of a big year for Major League Baseball, when rookie chief executive Nixon exercised his presidential privilege in throwing out a series of three ceremonial first pitches at this game. An avid baseball fan, the 37th president appears intent as he dutifully performs the task of delivering a ball to a waiting Senators player on the field. Nixon has thoughtfully signed "9" on a white area at bottom-left, for nice contrast of his signature. Displaying an appreciative expression for Nixon's strike, 1969 Manager of the Year Williams has signed over his jersey, also with "9" strength. This season marked the 100th anniversary of Major League Baseball, and it was also the first season of divisional play. Surrounding Nixon are first-year MLB commissioner Bowie Kuhn, first-year Senators owner Bob Short, New York Yankees manager Ralph Houk, and American League president Joe Cronin in a joyous celebration of our national pastime.

Full LOA from James Spence/JSA.