autographed ball (1909)

“As another illustration of how crazy people will go over baseball–the raffle of an autographed ball recently pitched by Christy Mathewson brought $275 and Ty Cobb’s bat was sold for $50. In the name of goodness what would a player’s pants and shoes bring?” Walter D. Bratz, “Sport Gossip,” Salt Lake Telegram, October 16, 1909, p18

No earliest use given in 2009 Dickson Baseball Dictionary

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