1961 Yankees World Series Champs Team Signed Baseball Mickey Mantle Maris JSA
Spalding "Official Babe Ruth League" baseball signed in blue ink by the following eighteen members of the 1961-62 World Champion New York Yankees: Mickey Mantle (sweet spot), Yogi Berra (sweet spot), Roger Maris, Howard, Arroyo, Moses (coach), Reniff, Clevenger, Kubek, Lopez, Skowron, Terry, Gardner, Hegan (coach), Downing, Crosetti (coach), Richardson, and Murray (batting practice pitcher). 1961 Yankees balls are among the most desirable of all team-signed balls due to the historic nature of the season. The club not only amassed a then-record 240 home runs but also won 109 games, which was the third-highest win total in American League history at the time. Despite those two lofty achievements, both paled in comparison to the daily drama presented by the famed "M&M Boys," Mantle and Maris. The sluggers waged a classic season-long home-run duel that recalled the epic battle between Ruth and Gehrig in 1927. Just as in 1927, the contest ended with a home-run record being broken, as Maris bested Ruth's single-season mark in the final game of the year. The postseason was equally unkind to Ruth, as Whitey Ford broke the Babe's streak of consecutive scoreless innings in World Series play, leading the Yankees to an easy five-game victory over the Reds and cementing their place as one of the greatest ball clubs of all time. The ball has light toning but otherwise is in Excellent to Mint condition overall. Full LOA from James Spence/JSA.