Jul 17, 2024 - Aug 3, 2024
Branch Rickey single-signed baseballs rarely ever surface in the hobby, and this one paired with Stan Musial is about as close as you'll likely get to finding one. Long before the baseball executive famously signed Jackie Robinson to break the color barrier in 1947, he served as manager (1919-25) and general manager (1917-42) with the St. Louis Cardinals. There, he developed a National League dynasty that won six pennants and four World Series titles lead first by the "Gashouse Gang" and later by "Stan The Man".
This Official League ball in NM condition is signed "To Rickey French, from Branch Rickey, Best wishes, always, Jan. 22, 1964" in 6/10 black ink on a side panel. On a different panel, Musial has signed, "To Ricky, Best Wishes, Stan Musial" in 7/10 black ink. The date and pairing is interesting to note, as the two men had a bit of a falling out at that time. After GM stints with the Dodgers and Pirates and a tenure as President of the Continental League, Rickey returned to the Cardinals in October 1962 (exactly 20 years later) as a special advisor to owner August Busch Jr. He controversially urged Busch to get Musial to retire despite Stan batting .330 the year prior. Ultimately, Musial did hang 'em up at the end of the '63 season. The Cards would go on to win the 1964 World Series without him, but Rickey was relieved of his duties shortly thereafter. He died of heart failure in 1965. Includes LOA from JSA.
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