BOBBY VALENTINE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL CO-SIGNED BY: RALPH KINER - HFSID 277306

RALPH KINER and BOBBY VALENTINE
The Hall of Fame slugger and successful manager sign a ball.
Baseball signed: "Ralph Kiner", "Bobby Valentine". Rawlings official National League baseball, Leonard S. Coleman, President. There is a third, smudged and unidentified signature. In a 10-year career shortened by a back ailment, Hall of Famer RALPH KINER hit 369 home runs, winning or sharing the National League home run title in each of his first seven seasons in Pittsburgh. He topped 50 twice, with 51 in 1947 and 54 in 1949. His ratio of 7.1 home runs per 100 at-bats trails only Babe Ruth and Mark McGwire among retired players. Kiner averaged better than 100 RBI a season as he led the National League in slugging percentage three times. Kiner has been an announcer for the New York Mets since the team's first year in the league, 1962!BOBBY VALENTINE played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (1969, 1971-1972), California Angels (1973-1975), San Diego Padres (1975-1977), New York Mets (1977-1978) and Seattle Mariners (1979). Valentine managed the Texas Rangers from 1985 until he was fired by owner George W. Bush in 1992. He then managed the New York Mets from 1996-2002, finishing 2nd in 1998 and 1999, winning the National League pennant in 2000. Since 2003, Valentine has managed the Chiba Lotte Marines of Japan's Pacific League. When his team won the Japan Series in 2005, he called for a 7-game playoff between the US World Series winner and the Japanese champion. So far his challenge has gone unanswered. Unevenly toned. Valentine's signature light, a third signature smudged and not indentified.