Images(7)

Baseball

Object number2013.100.1

Manufacturer Spalding

Date1960

OriginUnited States of America

MediumLeather

Credit LineGift of Brian T. Connors

DescriptionBaseball autographed by the 1960s Pittsburgh Pirates. Standard professional ball with red stitches. All signatures are in blue ink.Dimensions9.25 in. (23.5 cm)
InscriptionsTwenty-two autographs of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team including Wilmer "Vinegar Bend" Mizell and Bill Mazeroski:
“Dick Groat / Harvey Haddix / Geo Witt / Bill Burwell / … / Smoky Burgess”;
“Danny Murtaugh”;
“Dick Schofield / … / Lenny Levy”;
“… / … / … / … / Bill Virdon / …”; and
“Joe Gibbon / Vinegar Bend Mizelle / Gene Baker / Bob Skinner / Sam Narron”.

MarksMaker's mark stamped in black "Official / National League / [illegible signature]" ; "THE CUSHIONED CORK CENTER / [image of a baseball with "SPALDING" in center] / REG. U.S. PAT. OFF / MADE IN U.S.A."
Historical NotesBaseball autographed by the 1960 World Series Champion Pittsburgh Pirates. Danny Murtaugh signature is signed on the sweet spot and is likely clubhouse signed. Donor Brian T. Connors obtained this baseball from a friend, Mike Ovca. Mike's father, Joe Ovca, coached future Pittsburgh Pirate, Wilmer "Vinegar Bend" Mizell in high school baseball in Leaksville, Mississippi. In 1960, when the donor was 12 years old, he desperately wanted a Major League baseball cap and his father suggested he write their family friend Mizell, who played for the Pirates. Mike waited and waited for the hat and in October of that year, after the Pirates had won their historic World Series against the Yankees, a team-autographed baseball arrived in the mail. He was disappointed it wasn't a hat from the Pirates, but over the years he realized the significance of his signed ball. The letter from Mizell that came with the ball was lost.

Related person Wilmer David Mizell

Related person William Stanley Mazeroski (born 1936)

Related institution Pittsburgh Pirates (founded 1887)

Previous owner Mike Ovca

Related person Joe Ovca

Related person Richard Morrow Groat (born 1930)

Related person Harvey Haddix Jr.

Related person George Adrian Witt (1931 - 2013)

Related person William Edwin Burwell

Related person Forrest Harrill Burgess (1927 - 1991)

Related person Daniel Edward Murtaugh (1917 - 1976)

Related person John Richard Schofield (1935 - 2022)