savevsdeath:

The Merkle’s Boner ball

“The famous “Merkle’s Boner” ball. Presented here is the very ball held by second baseman Johnny Evers to record the final out in the famous “Merkle’s Boner” game between the (New York) Giants and Cubs on September 23, 1908, at the Polo Grounds. That was the game in which Giants rookie first baseman Fred Merkle failed to touch second base on what was the apparent game-winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs. That mistake not only cost the Giants the victory (the game was ruled a tie), but ultimately the pennant. The Merkle Ball is perhaps the most famous baseball in the history of the game! It is without question one of the defining artifacts of the game. There is no more important baseball from the dead-ball era or a more controversial ball from the entire twentieth century.”

- Robert Edward Auctions

sold for $65,000 in a recession.

(via mightyflynn)