This vintage Roaring Twenties era baseball carries the signatures of 16 New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox players. A faded inscription on one panel dates the ball to September 1, 1929, when the Yankees played the Red Sox at Braves Field. (From 1929-32, the Red Sox played most home games at Fenway, but would occasionally play at Braves Field, home of the NL's Boston Braves.) That day, Babe Ruth hit his 40th homer of the season and Tony Lazzeri went deep twice in a 6-4 Yanks win.

     Key among the signatures are Babe Ruth (on the sweet spot, of course), Lou Gehrig, Red Ruffing and Tony Lazzeri. Other Yankees include Bob Shawkey, Mark Koenig and Lyn Lary. The Red Sox are represented by Bill Bayne, Phil Todt, Ray Dobins, Hal Rhyne, Elliot Bigelow, Jack Russell, Boston manager Bill Carrigan, Ellis Kinder and Carl Yastrzemski -- the latter two obviously added much later. Autographs range 4-7/10 in strength and eye appeal. Ideally, Ruth and Gehrig are among the boldest.

     The Official American League ball has the appearance of a game-used ball with its scuff marks and soiling. The Reach manufacturer stamps prove it to be from the 1926-28 Ban Johnson era. Perhaps the home plate umpire ran short of 1929-31 era Ernest Barnard balls on Sept. 1, 1929, at Braves Field. Guess we'll never know. Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA, claiming Ruth's signature to be authentic but "partially enhanced in an unknown hand."