Summer Premier Auction 2015
Fri, May 8, 2015 08:00PM EDT - Sun, Aug 23, 2015 11:30AM EDT
Timed Auction
Lot 453
8/8/88 FIRST NIGHT GAME AT WRIGLEY FIELD GAME USED BALL SIGNED BY GAME'S UMPIRE CREW
Sold for
$471.60
Sold Price includes BP
Bid Increments
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|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $200 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
| $300,000 | $25,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 |
The first game under the lights at Wrigley Field was slated for Monday August 8 against the Phillies. As might be expected a capacity crowd showed up at Wrigley to be part of history braving yet another scorching day as Chicago suffered through one of its hottest summers in recent years. By the bottom of the fourth inning dark clouds were looming with the Cubbies leading 3-1 and so it started to rain. And rain. And rain. Thunder and lightning followed. Ultimately enough rain pooled on the tarp that Cubs Greg Maddux Les Lancaster Al Nipper and Jody Davis did a bit of body surfing to pass the time prompting some imitation by uh exuberant Cubs fans who got the heave-ho for their efforts. Try as they might they couldnt get the ballgame in and at 10:25 p.m. the umps the protagonists in this little story and auction lot called it quits. It was the first rain in the Chicago area in more than a month. This wonderful baseball an Official National League (Feeney) ball was apparently signed by the umpiring crew before the game given that Eric Gregg signed on one panel and added the inscription First Night Game 8-8-88 on the sweet spot. The other three umpires that night Dave Pallone Larry Poncino and Jim Quick signed on the three remaining panels with each umpire adding their number alongside. Designating a villain for the historic rainout was tricky: for those too sanguine to blame Mother Nature Morganna: The Kissing Bandit wound up being a viable alternative. With the Cubs Hall of Fame second baseman in the on-deck circle in the bottom of the first Morganna burst upon the scene and tried to grab a smooch from a bemused Sandberg. He may have been bothered but not fazed: he stepped into the batters box and socked a two-run home run that ended up getting washed away like everything else. Ultimately a more subdued but still capacity crowd would assemble the next night as the hated New York Mets joined the Cubs in making history. The ball shows ample game use and is encased in a clear plastic display cube and original box.
Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.
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