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Cal Ripken Jr. Autograph on a 1981 Rochester Red Wings Team-Signed Baseball.
Lot 373. Cal Ripken Jr. Autograph on a 1981 Rochester Red Wings Team-Signed Baseball. RIPKEN SPENT ONLY THE 1981 SEASON IN THE MINOR LEAGUES. AS A RESULT, EXAMPLES OF HIS SIGNATURE IN A MINOR LEAGUE CONTEXT ARE SCARCE. The autographs of Ripken and 15 other Red Wings are on an ex-m “Compliments of Kodak” ball given to a fan on Kodak Night on May 30, 1981. The Red Wings served as Baltimore’s AAA farm team in the International League. In addition to having Riken’s autograph, the ball is of interest because it is signed by 11 players, including Ripken, who participated in THE LONGEST GAME IN PRO BASEBALL HISTORY. The 33-inning game with Rochester at Pawtucket began on April 18, 1981, extended into April 19 and was concluded on June 23. Ripken signed the ball at the top of the east panel. His autograph is bold, a 9-10. He shares the panel with Tom Eaton, Jeff Schneider and another player. There are a couple of tiny brown lines on or next to the “R” in Ripken. Elsewhere, the ball is signed by manager Doc Edward on the sweet spot, Dave Huppert, Floyd Rayford, Dan Logan and (Kevin) Kennedy (traced over) on the west panel, local broadcaster Jeff Howlett, who threw out the first pitch, and John Valle on the north, and Mike Hart, Steve Grilli (losing pitcher in the marathon game), Mike Boddicker, Jim Umbarger and Bobby Bonner on the south. Bonner and Schneider share Ripken’s 1982 Topps rookie card with him. Ripken batted .288 and contributed 23 home runs and led the team in RBI with 75. The ball is accompanied by a 12 ½” x 8 ½” team picture and a plastic cup that has the line score for the marathon game with Pawtucket. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $321.
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