Couple To Pitch Prized Baseballs Signed By Ruth, Gehrig, Martin, They’ll Net Thousands At Auction
About the time the World Series rolls around, a Hayden couple figures to hit a grand slam at the cash register.
You may recall reading about Hayden resident Allen Cherry and his wife Alyne, in a February article in The Spokesman-Review. They’re the owners of a baseball from the first All-Star game, in 1933. The American League ball, signed by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and others, was a gift from Alyne’s father, Pepper Martin, the former St. Louis Cardinals great.
Cherry allowed the ball, and several others from Martin’s collection, to be displayed at American Baseball Cards in Spokane. Turns out Cherry unknowingly owned another rare ball, the 1933 National League AllStar ball, signed by Martin, Carl Hubbell and six other stars.
Cherry has agreed to auction the balls on Sept. 30 at Christie’s Auction House in New York City. Cherry said opening bids on the Ruth ball will probably start at $10,000 and the N.L. ball at $6,000. The balls are part of a sports memorabilia show at Christie’s. Other items include Gehrig’s jersey and Hakeem Olajuwon’s 1994 NBA championship ring.
Cherry said Christie’s and American Baseball Cards owner Bill Graham each will receive 10 percent cuts from the sale of the balls.
Both balls will be on display in Chicago this weekend, and interest is high as this year’s All-Star approaches on Tuesday in Texas.
Cherry said he negotiated with ABC Sports and almost had a deal worked out where the balls would be shown during Tuesday’s telecast. That was nixed when the allotted time of the pre-game show was trimmed, but the balls might receive an on-air mention, he said.
In 1933, Martin, who played on the N.L. team, paid an usher $20 to retrieve the A.L. ball after Ruth crushed the first All-Star home run.
Cherry said he intends to use some of the money from the auction to continue his campaign to get Martin into the Hall of Fame, via the Hall’s veterans committee.
, DataTimes