TY COBB SINGLE SIGNED 1919 PLAYING DAYS AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALL RARE JSA Y48699 For Sale

RARE TY COBB SINGLE SIGNED 1919 PLAYING DAYS AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALL JSA Y48699

JSA Certification # Y48699

Offered, a rare single signed Ty Cobb early playing days ball (1919). Given by Cobb to an East Coast friend, Helene Champlain, this OAL Johnson baseball is among the most glorious single-signed Cobb examples in the hobby. With trademark “Reach” stampings that date specifically to 1918-1924, the Full size orb is covered with a thin, uniform coat of period shellac. On a side panel, Cobb has inscribed in black-ink steel tip fountain pen: “To Helene Champlain – July – 30th – 19 from (signed) Ty Cobb.” Cobb’s potent signature extends to the somewhat faded but legible trademark stampings. Complete with his customary signature, Cobb’s penning projects every bit of (“7-8”) strength and clarity. As for Cobb’s relationship with Champlain, correspondence between Cobb and Champlain has surfaced with examples from 1923, 1927 and 1948 and the “consensus” is that Champlain was Cobb’s “mistress.” If this is the case along with this being one of the few playing days single signed Cobbs, it represents an early if not his first meeting with Helene Champlain. The 1927 correspondence, incidentally, was a Christmas card from Cobb and his wife. As for Champlain, she has been described as a book salesperson at Macy’s in New York and a member of the Trinity Church. Later Cobb would entice her to visit with tickets and comment about a stay she had at his home. While speculation always favors controversy, the only “truth” here is that this is one of the most spectacular earliest Cobb signatures I have encountered. Full photo LOA from JSA.This autograph is guaranteed authentic and has been certified by JSA, the authority on autograph authentication.

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