Beautiful Sandy Koufax 1963 World Series George Sosnak Hand Painted Art Baseball
Elaborate folk-art tribute ball hand-painted by former minor-league umpire George Sosnak (1922-1992), commemorating both the Los Angeles Dodgers' and New York Yankees' participation in the 1963 World Series. Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax was the star of the series, winning two games in the Dodgers' sweep, which was highlighted by his record-setting fifteen strikeouts in Game 1. Not surprisingly, Sosnak dedicated one full side-panel to an illustration of Koufax, along with a written exploit of his deeds. The opposite panel features Harry Bright, the pinch-hitter who became Koufax's 15th strikeout victim. Nearly every inch of the remaining surface area features Sosnak's meticulous hand-painted lettering. The text provides copious information regarding the series. Sosnak has signed the ball on the Bright panel. The printed inscription "To Dick Buskey/Best Wishes/From/Bob Keech/1964" appears between the two illustrations. Although Sosnak was a prolific artist, by some accounts creating over 800 illustrated baseballs, the popularity of his works has continued to grow with each passing decade. Sosnak is nearly as well known in the folk-art community as he is in the field of baseball collectibles, so it is no surprise that examples of his work can be found in both the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. One of Sosnak's balls (detailing JFK’s Opening Day pitch at a 1962 Senators game) can even be found in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library.
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