JOE TORRE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL CO-SIGNED BY: OZZIE "THE WIZARD OF OZ" SMITH - HFSID 289798

JOE TORRE and OZZIE SMITH

Official National League (White) baseball

Baseball signed: "Joe Torre" and "Ozzie Smith". Rawlings Official National League Baseball, William D. White, President. In an 18-year Major League career beginning in 1961, Joe Torre made the All-Star nine times, playing for the Braves (in both Milwaukee and Atlanta), Cardinals and Mets. In 1971 with St. Louis, he was the National League's Most Valuable Player, leading the league in batting average (.363), total bases, RBI's (137) and several other hitting categories. The versatile Torre caught 903 games, while playing 787 at 1B, 515 at 3B, and two in the outfield. Beginning in 1977, Torre managed the same three teams he had played for. Then, in 1996, he took over the reins of the New York Yankees, leading them to six pennants and four World Championships through 2006. In the first half of the 2007 season, he passed Miller Huggins (1,796) and Casey Stengel (1,851) to become the second longest-reigning Yankees manager (1,862 at mid-season), trailing only Joe McCarthy (2,348 games between 1931 and 1946). Declining a new Yankees contract at a reduced salary, Torre became manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008, taking the club to the National League Championship series in each of his first two seasons. Ozzie Smith (b. 1954) played the first four of his 19 Major League seasons (1978-1996) with the San Diego Padres, and the rest with the St Louis Cardinals. A pesky hitter and good base stealer, "the Wizard of Oz" may have been the best defensive shortstop of all time. Over his career, he averaged a remarkable one chance per game more than the average NL shortstop, making 25% more plays than his rivals! A 15-time All-Star and of course, a 13-time Gold Glove, Smith was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2002. Toned. Unknown stains throughout ball (not effecting signatures). Otherwise, fine condition.