Baseball
Object number2012.86.1
Date1935
Mediumleather; nylon; ink
Credit LineIn rememberence of Bernard & Marguerite Singer by their goddaughter Katherine Crider. Bernard is the younger brother of Norman Singer
DescriptionStandard baseball with red stitches. Autographed by Babe Ruth on the sweet spot in black ink.Dimensions9.25 in. (23.5 cm)InscriptionsAutographed on the sweet spot in black ink: "Babe Ruth".
Autographs on ball:
“J. Honus Wagner / Waite Hoyt / Tommy Padden / Pie Traynor(?) / Mace Brown”;
“Babe Ruth(?) / Cy Blanton / Wm. E. Benswanger”;
“Lloyd Waner / Red Lucas / … / Guy Bush / …”;
“Hal Smith / Ralph Birkofer / Earl Grace / Jack Salveson / Bill Swift / …”; and
“Floyd Vaughan / Jim Weaver / … / Gus Suhr / Bill Brubaker / Tommy Thevenow / Babe Herman”.
MarksText on side "Official / National League / ..." and patent stamp.
Historical NotesA 1935 Babe Ruth signed baseball. Norman L. Singer was a junior at East McKeesport High School when he punctured his lung during a football game. He contracted tuberculosis and was bedridden. The avid sports fan’s mother wrote to Babe Ruth in 1935 when Ruth was in Pittsburgh (where he would hit his last three home runs), and Ruth signed a ball and had it delivered that morning before his afternoon game (2012.86.1). Bill Benswanger also sent a ball signed by the Pirates team (2012.86.2). Norman died five years later in 1940. His younger brother Bernard (Bernie) Singer inherited the ball and scrapbooks. As an industrial arts teacher at Canon-McMillan High School he befriended the donor Vincent Crider, eventually becoming Godparent to his child Katherine. He gifted the baseballs and other materials to Katherine who has now donated them to the museum with her parents.
Previous owner
Norman L. Singer
(died 1940)
Related person
George Herman Ruth Jr.
(1895 - 1948)
Related institution
East McKeesport High School
Previous owner
Bernard Singer
Previous owner
Vincent Crider
On View
Not on view
1935
