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Tommy John Signed Victory Baseballs
8 Lots
 Lot 31. Tommy John Autographed, Game-Used Baseballs from 7 of His 11 Wins in 1972! In his first season with the LA Dodgers, John won 11 and lost only five while limiting opponents to 2.89 runs per nine innings. His performance was part of a 10-season run (1971-81), interrupted by his surgery and rehabilitation in 1974-75, that produced an impressive 152-84 record. In fact, for the period, his winning percentage of .644 is similar to Sandy Koufax’s for his career – 165-87 and .655, and equals Dizzy Dean for his career, 150-83 and .644. ONE OF THE BASEBALLS IS FROM JOHN’S FIRST WIN AS A DODGER, a 3-1 victory at Atlanta Stadium on April 18. In seven innings, John gave up four hits and three walks. The other baseballs are for games in which he recorded his SECOND WIN, an 11-1, complete game on April 29 vs. the Mets at Dodger Stadium; #3, 6-4 over the Mets, May 11, at Shea Stadium; #4, 8-3 vs. St. Louis, June 2; win #6, 2-1 over St. Louis, June 13, Busch Stadium; #7, 5-0 against the Braves, June 25, Dodger Stadium, and #11, 4-2 over the Cubs, Aug. 19, Dodger Stadium. With one exception, each game-used ONL Feeney baseball has the opponent, date and score printed on the sweet spot. The ball from John’s seventh win lacks the date. In addition, the ball from his sixth win has an erroneous date, June 12 instead of June 13. One each ball, John placed a mint 9 or gem mint 10 autograph. Kevin Keating authenticated the autographs. This is the most complete group of game-used signed baseballs we have seen representing a season in the career of a top-flight major league pitcher! Please check out LOT 32, which is a companion piece to this important collection.
Winning Bid $541.
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 Lot 32. Tommy John Autographed, Game-Used Ball from a 1972 Three-Hit Shutout. At Dodger Stadium on Aug. 3, 1972, John pitched a complete game and blanked the San Francisco Giants on three hits. Dave Rader singled in the sixth and eighth innings, and Tito Fuentes doubled in the ninth. John also issued three passes. The win boosted his record to 9-5. He would earn two more victories without a loss by season’s end. In seven seasons with the Dodgers, John went 87-42. This game-used ONL Feeney baseball has the date, score and opponent printed on the sweet sport. John placed a gem mint 10 signature on the south panel, which has “3 Hit Shutout” printed beneath. This baseball complements LOT 31, which has seven game-signed baseballs from John’s 11-win 1972 season. It is one of eight signed game baseballs available from his 11 victories in 1972. Autograph authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $102.
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 Lot 33. Tommy John Autographed, Game-Used Ball from His 20th Win in 1977. John achieved the 20-game milestone for the first time on Sept. 25, 1977, when he and his LA Dodgers teammates defeated Houston, 5-4. With his damaged elbow repaired and fully rehabilitated, he had one of his best seasons ever, posting a 20-7 record and a 2.78 ERA. In eight innings in his first 20-win game, he yielded four runs on eight hits and two walks in eight innings. Joe Niekro lost for the Astros. On offense, Steven Yeager and Dusty Baker supported John’s efforts with home runs. John won at least 20 games in two subsequent seasons. The ONL Feeney ball that he saved from the game has “20th Win” printed on the sweet spot and “Houston 5-4” on the east panel. The date - Sept. 25, 1977 is on the east panel with the second 7 traced over. John’s gem mint 10 signature, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is on the north panel. This important piece of baseball history could be yours for our
Winning Bid $240.
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 Lot 34. Autographed Game Ball from Tommy John’s 19th Win in 1979. The 1979 season was one of John’s best as he posted a 21-9 record and a 2.96 ERA. On Sept. 19, he and his NY Yankees teammates defeated Cleveland, 2-0, for his 19th triumph. Only five Indians batters reached base in 8 2/3 innings, including two on walks. Ron Davis got the final out after John gave up a single with two out in the ninth. John autographed the south panel of this MacPhail ball used in the game. The date is on the north panel, and the score on the sweet spot. His signature is a 10 authenticated by Kevin Keating. Rare memento from one of three seasons in which John won at least 20 games.
Winning Bid $110.
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 Lot 35. Tommy John Signed Baseball Commemorating a 1984 California Angels’ Win. John won seven games for the 1984 Angels. He chalked up his sixth win on Aug. 1 against Oakland, pitching 7.1 innings and giving up three runs on six hits as the Angels won, 6-4. John recorded the score of the game on the sweet spot of a mint OAL Bobby Brown ball and placed the date on the north panel. His mint 9 to gem mint 10 autograph, authenticated by Kevin Keating, is on the south panel.
Winning Bid $61.
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 Lot 36. 2 Tommy John Signed Game-Used Baseballs from 1985 California Angels Victories. John won two games with the Angels in 1985. His first victory came on April 28 at Seattle’s Kingdome. He pitched 5.2 innings in a 2-1 triumph. In a rare relief appearance, he captured his second win on May 11 at County Stadium. Relieving Mike Witt, he pitched 1.2 scoreless innings against Milwaukee, and the Angels won, 6-5. Donnie Moore pitched the final inning. On each Bobby Brown OAL ball, the score on the sweet spot and the date on the north panel. His autographs, each on the south panel, are mint 9 to gem mint 10 authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $148.
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 Lot 37. Tommy John Signed Baseballs, One Game-Used, Commemorating His Oakland A’s Wins. Released by the Angels on June 19, 1985, John signed with the Athletics on July 12. Two weeks later, on July 26, he posted his first victory in an A’s uniform, 7-3 over Milwaukee. He pitched six innings, surrendering four hits and an unearned run. The Yankees were his second and last victim with Oakland. Going seven scoreless innings and giving up only three hits on Aug. 27, he defeated former and future teammate Ron Guidry. The score is on the sweet spot of each OAL Bobby Brown baseball, and the date, on the north panel. John autographed the south panel of each. Kevin Keating authenticated the signatures, which are mint 9 to gem mint 10. The ball for the July 26 game is ex-m. The Aug. 27 ball is game-used.
Minimum Bid $150.
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 Lot 38. 2 Signed Baseballs Marking Tommy John’s 4th and 5th Wins for the 1987 Yankees. The ball for the fourth win on May 25 is game-used. John pitched 6.1 innings and yielded two earned runs in a 6-3 win over the Angels at Anaheim Stadium. The OAL Brown ball has an incorrect date of May 15 on the sweet spot; the game was actually on May 25. Often, game balls were put aside and marked later in the season. The ball has the Yankees’ score on the north panel, and the Angels’, on the south. John signed the north panel. He earned his fifth win, for a 5-1 record, on May 31 against the A’s at Yankee Stadium. Pitching six innings, he gave up five hits and two runs. The Yankees won, 9-5. John commemorated the victory on an nm (very minor discoloration spots) Brown ball, which has the date on the north panel, the score on the sweet spot and “Win #5” on the south. He signed the north panel. Kevin Keating authenticated both signatures, which are mint 9 to gem mint 10.
Winning Bid $121.
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