In 1953, Ed Lopat organized a team of 16 Major League All Stars that toured Japan. The team played most of their games against a Japanese Pacific League All Star Team. 15 of the 16 U.S. team members signed this ball. The ball is one
of only a few early official Japanese Pacific League balls to enter the hobby, and is one of only two signed 1953 Tour balls known to us. Signers include Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Nellie Fox, Robin Roberts, Ed Mathews, Enos Slaughter
and Bob Lemon, plus Billy Martin, Ed Lopat, Jackie Jensen, Curt Simmons, Harvey Kuenn, Eddie Robinson, Hank Sauer, Gus Niarhos and Johnny Stevens. Mike Garcia is the only Tour member missing from this ball. This is a rare
opportunity to own a beautiful memento of this classic tour.
Size: Regular baseball size.
Condition: 12 of the signatures (blue pen) are quite bold and grade 8 or 9 out of 10 including Berra, Fox, Roberts, Slaughter and Lemon. Lopat grades 4 out of 10. Three signatures (red pen) have faded and grade 2 out of 10 (Jensen,
Mathews and Simmons). The ball is used, but we can't be certain whether it was used during these particular games. It has yellowed and darkened, but the seams are still tight.