Presidential Autograph Baseball Set Fetches $4.55 Billion Won at Auction

A unique collection of baseballs, each bearing the autograph of a U.S. president, has fetched a remarkable $3.055 million at auction. The set, featuring signatures from 21 presidents, was sold through Hunter Auctions' Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Live Auction.

The collection spans from Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th U.S. president, up to the most recent, Donald Trump. The anonymous seller reportedly dedicated three decades to amassing these historical artifacts. Each baseball in the set is accompanied by authenticity certificates from James Spence Authentication (JSA) and Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA/DNA), two of the most respected firms in the sports and entertainment memorabilia industry.

Some of the baseballs also include documentation proving their provenance. For instance, a baseball signed by Theodore Roosevelt in 1918 comes with a letter from Edwin Collins, son of a former GM Cadillac executive. This particular ball is noted as one of only two known autographed baseballs from Roosevelt.

Another significant piece, a ball signed by President John F. Kennedy, has its history detailed in a letter from former New York Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford. Ford recounted an event in the 1960s in Palm Beach, Florida, where Secret Service agents brought him, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, and Tony Kubek to Joseph Kennedy's home. There, President Kennedy signed 12 baseballs, distributing three to each player.

David Hunt, president of Hunt Auctions, praised the collection, stating, "The passion and dedication to baseball history, and the special bond between baseball and American presidents, are embodied in this treasure. The collector's passion is as impressive as the autograph ball collection itself."

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The passion and dedication to baseball history, and the special bond between baseball and American presidents, are embodied in this treasure. The collector's passion is as impressive as the autograph ball collection itself.