Vic Raschi Single Signed Baseball. Official American League, MacPhail. PSA

Elusive Vic Raschi Single Signed Baseball
Inscribed "Best Regards"

Vic Raschi (1919-1988) was the ace of the Yankees pitching staff during their unprecedented run of five World Championships from 1949 to 1953. He won 21 games three consecutive years, against just 28 losses, during that streak. From 1946 to 1953 he posted a 120-50 record for a .705 overall winning percentage. Nicknamed "The Springfield Rifle" (born in Springfield, Mass.), he was a six-time World Champion and appeared in four all-star games.

Casey Stengel said "if there was only one game I had to win, the man I’d want out there on the mound for me would be Vic Raschi''. Quite a compliment from the skipper who also had Allie Reynolds, Eddie Lopat and Whitey Ford, and Joe Page at his disposal during that period. 

Raschi passed away in 1988, quite young at age 69, of a sudden heart attack. As a result, there was little opportunity for him to do baseball card show signings; we know of just a small one in the late-1980's. Consequently, single signed baseballs are rare. This one always appears on Yankee collectors' wish lists. 

Offered is the first one Raschi single owned in at least five years, and fortunately it is inscribed "best wishes". In fact, it is the only one we've owned of this type (though decades back we did own one inscribed "Springfield Rifle"; we cannot imagine what that would fetch in today's flourishing market). 

This ball was signed and inscribed in 1977, as indicated by the Rawlings one-year only stampings. He did attend Yankee Old-Timers day festivities from time to time, so perhaps the ball was signed at the Stadium that specific year. In any case, this official American League ball (Mac Phail, pres.) is unused, just slightly toned, and bears a strong, large signature and inscription.   

Comes with a Letter of Authenticity from PSA