Tommy John Signed Game-Used and Commemorative Victory Baseballs
7 Lots
Lot 22. Baseball Signed by Tommy John and Dr. Frank Jobe, “Tommy John Surgery” Inventor. Known among surgeons as ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction, the surgery involves replacing a ligament in the elbow with a tendon from another part of the body. In 1974, John became the first professional athlete to undergo the surgery successfully. When Dr. Jobe performed the surgery, he estimated John’s chance of a successful recovery at 1 in 100. Today, the complete recovery rate is at least 85 percent. After the surgery, John required 18 months of rehabilitation. He returned to the majors in 1976 and pitched for another 13 seasons. He was 46 when he retired in 1989 as one of the most successful left-handed pitchers in major league history. Dr. Jobe signed two panels, the north and east, of a Rawlings Dodgers baseball that has Commissioner Selig’s facsimile signature. John autographed the west panel below the Dodgers logo. In addition, the south panel has Orel Hershiser’s autograph. Dr. Jobe, who serves as a special advisor to the Dodgers, performed rotator cuff surgery on Hershiser. The autographs are nm-m 8 to gem mint 10, and the ball is mint. Rare and unusual!
Winning Bid $242
Lot 50. Tommy John Vintage Autographed Baseball Commemorating His First Yankees Win. John made his debut with New York in the team’s third game of the season - on April 8, 1979 against the Milwaukee Brewers. Thurman Munson was his battery mate. In seven innings, he yielded only one run on six hits; he walked two and struck out one. A two-run home run in the second inning by Jim Spencer was all the offensive support John needed for a 2-1 win. Goose Gossage came on for the save. John won 20 addition games in 1979 while losing only nine. On an OAL MacPhail baseball, he recorded the score on the sweet spot, the date on the north panel and “W#1 Yankees” on the south panel. His signature on the north panel is a 10. The ball shows light discoloration on the SS, west and east panels and has strong pre-printed areas. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph.
Winning Bid $218
Lot 51. Tommy John Signed, Game-Used Ball from His First Yankee Shutout and Complete Game. At Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium on April 12, 1979, John blanked the Orioles, 5-0, on three hits. The first inning made it seem unlikely that he would record his first shutout and complete game as a Yankee. With one out, Mark Belanger doubled. After Ken Singleton walked, Eddie Murray flied to center field. Next, a Doug DeCinces infield single loaded the bases. John ended the rocky initial first inning by getting Lee May to ground out. After that, he was close to perfect, giving up only a walk and third-inning single. The win boosted his record to 2-0 and improved the Yankees’ to 3-3. Thurman Munson called the pitches and aided his hurler with a singles and an RBI. During the rest of the season, he won 19 more games while losing only nine. John signed the south panel of the ball. His signature grades mint 9 to gem mint 10 and is authenticated by Kevin Keating. The score is on the sweet spot of the OAL MacPhail ball, and the date is on the north panel.
Winning Bid $110
Lot 52. Tommy John Signed, Game-Used Ball from a 1979 Two-Hit Shutout for New York. The 1979 season, John’s first in New York, was one of the best of his career. He won 21 games, lost nine, and allowed only 2.96 runs per game. His ninth straight Yankees win without a loss came on May 20 at Fenway Park against the Red Sox and Dennis Eckersley. In a complete-game 2-0 triumph, John faced only 28 batters. Only two reached base. (He walked no one.) Jerry Remy led off the game with a single, but was picked off first by catcher Thurman Munson. Fred Lynn rapped a harmless double in the fourth. John signed the south panel of the OAL MacPhail ball. The autograph is mint 9 to gem mint 10. The date is on the north panel, and the score, on the sweet spot. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph.
Winning Bid $152
Lot 53. Tommy John Autographed Game-Used Ball from His 21st Victory in 1979. One of baseball’s all-time top left-handed pitchers, John recorded his 21st win of 1979 on Sept. 29 at Yankee Stadium. In their next-to-last 1979 game, the New York Yankees defeated Toronto, 9-4. John concluded the season with a 21-9 record and a stingy 2.96 ERA. Three of the Blue Jays’ runs were earned, and John struck out seven. Don Hood relieved John and, after giving up a hit, got Al Woods to hit a grounder for the final out. John printed the date on the north panel, the score on the sweet spot and “21st Win” on the south of a MacPhail ball used during the game. He added his signature below. Kevin Keating authenticated the autograph, which is a 10. This signed ball is from the personal collection of one of baseball’s important pitchers.
Winning Bid $134
Lot 54. 2 Tommy John Signed Baseballs Commemorating 1973 and 1978 LA Dodgers Victories. On April 8, 1973, John pitched 7.1 scoreless innings as the Dodgers defeated San Diego, 4-0, at Dodger Stadium. The win was his first of the season. The corresponding ONL Feeney baseball has the score on the sweet spot and an incorrect date, April 18, on the north panel. John’s signature on the south panel is mint 9 to gem mint 10. Another autographed ball marks John’s fourth victory of 1978, a complete-game effort in a 4-2 win against Cincinnati at Riverfront Stadium. John gave up six hits and struck out six. He signed the north panel, which has the date. The score is on the sweet spot, and the teams, on the south. The signatures grades 9-10. Kevin Keating authenticated the signatures. The baseballs are nm.
Winning Bid $75
Lot 55. 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, 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, John 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 nm. The Aug. 27 ball is game-used.
Winning Bid $75
