President Woodrow Wilson Signed 1917 National League Baseball PSA DNA COA
$199,995.00
Woodrow Wilson Baseball Signed for WWI Red Cross Fundraiser, PSA/DNA Authentic, Finest Known!
A vintage Spalding Official National League baseball signed in black fountain pen "Woodrow Wilson". The ball has been stamped with a red cross beneath the President's signature, probably added when the baseball was offered for sale at a Red Cross fundraising drive during World War I. Other signatures include: Vice President Thomas R. Marshall, House Speaker Champ Clark, and Representatives J.G. Cannon, Jeannette Rankin, N.L. Strong, H.L. Bartholomew, and William Tyler Page. Accompanied by a full Letter of Authenticity from PSA/DNA.
Provenance: Red Cross benefit auction ca. 1917-1918; Sotheby's, 1987; Ex. Collection of Steve Forbes.
President Woodrow Wilson, an ardent baseball fan, was the first sitting U.S. president to regularly attend Major League Baseball games and throw ceremonial first pitches, helping establish a cherished White House tradition. Despite his academic and often serious demeanor, Wilson found great joy in America's pastime—he even played baseball during his days at Princeton, long before entering politics. His first ceremonial pitch came on April 20, 1916, at Washington's Griffith Stadium, where he threw from the stands to the catcher below, launching what would become a symbolic gesture of unity between the presidency and the national game. Even during the tense years of World War I, Wilson viewed baseball as a vital morale booster for the nation, reinforcing his belief that the sport embodied the democratic spirit and teamwork at the heart of American life.
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