Commemorating the invention of America’s pastime one hundred years earlier, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum was erected in 1939 to celebrate and preserve the game’s earliest stars. Beginning in 1936, voting began to elect the Hall of Fame’s founding members. On June 12, 1939, the very first Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony was held in Cooperstown (N.Y.) to honor the Classes of 1936, 1937, 1938 and 1939. Eleven living legends were in attendance to be enshrined: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Cy Young, Walter Johnson, Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker, Larry "Nap" Lajoie, George Sisler, Pete "Grover Cleveland" Alexander, and Connie Mack.

Among those present at the Hall’s opening in 1939 was a local kid from Cooperstown named Fletcher A. Blanchard. The 14-year-old boy was lucky enough to serve as bat boy at the “Cavalcade of Baseball” Hall of Fame centennial exhibition game held at Doubleday Field that weekend. Young Fletcher was given two baseballs by a museum staff member and tasked with getting the inaugural inductees and players participating in the Cavalcade game to sign each ball. One of the balls was for the museum and the other ball he was allowed to keep. So, there he was, living every baseball fan’s dream, helping current and former big-leaguers pick out their weapons of choice before each at-bat. The kid’s efforts to get as many Hall of Famers and stars to sign each ball proved quite successful, too. On the ball he kept, Fletcher managed to get nine of the “Original Eleven” (all but Lajoie and Alexander) along with 17 others for a total of 26 different signatures. An additional seven future inductees – Mel Ott, Dizzy Dean, Hank Greenberg, Gabby Harnett, Joe Medwick, Charlie Gehringer and Billy Herman – added their autographs for a total of 16 Hall of Famers represented (Greenberg signed twice).

After 85 years in captivity, save for a brief loan back to the HOF Museum in early 1980s, the “Blanchard 1939 Centennial Baseball” is now up for auction, coming fresh to the hobby from Fletcher Blanchard’s living family members. The ‘Official League Ball’ dating to the late 1930’s was lightly coated with shellac decades ago to preserve the boldness and legibility of each autograph. All but Cy Young (black ink) has signed in blue fountain pen.

Babe Ruth adorns the sweet spot in 6.5/10 strength. The west panel (top to bottom) has Walter Johnson (6/10), Tris Speaker (7.5/10), Hal Schumacher, Johnny Allen, and George Sisler (6.5/10). The north panel has Ty Cobb (7/10), Cy Young (6/10), Dizzy Dean (5.5/10), Billy Herman, Stan Hack, and Honus Wagner (6/10). The south panel has Connie Mack (8/10), Johnny Vander Meer, Hank Greenberg (7/10), Chas Gehringer (7/10), Cookie Lavagetto, and Mel Ott (7/10). The east panel has Frankie Hayes, Art Jorgens, Gabby Hartnett, Greenberg (again), and Eddie Collins (6.5/10). Also on the sweet spot, flanking Ruth, are Eddie Miller (above) and Morrie Arnovich (below). Joe Medwick and Muddy Ruel have signed directly over the manufacturer label.

The ball itself remains in VG-EX condition overall with a light brown tone brought by the aged shellacking. Still, it survives as a special piece of baseball history and a valuable family heirloom. Accompanying this lot are six 1939 inaugural Baseball Hall of Fame items:

1. GA ticket stub from 6/12/1939 Cavalcade of Baseball exhibition game (EX front, FR back).

2. Rare Official Scorecard from Cavalcade game measuring 11” by 24” when unfolded, showing both Hans Wagner (“The Wagners”) and Eddie Collins (“The Collins”) managed teams. Unscored, it was folded into fourths (VG).

3. Esso Baseball 100^th Anniversary Handbook (edited by Christy Walsh), with MLB and minor league stats, stories, highlights and tips from baseball legends, 50 pages (VG-EX).

4. “Visit Cooperstown” Centennial Baseball Celebration postcard, 3½ x 5½ inches (NM).

5. Centennial Baseball Calendar with 1939 schedules of each pro league, 4x9” (EX).

6. National Base Ball Museum and Hall of Fame info/guide booklet, 8 pages (GD).

The Blanchard family kept each item meticulously in a black folder along with pictures, letters and paperwork from the ball’s time on display 1982-83 at the HOF museum. Copy of correspondence between Howard Talbot Jr. (former Director of HOF Museum) and Fletcher Blanchard is included along with letter of provenance from Scott Blanchard (Fletcher’s son). Full LOA from PSA/DNA for the autographs.