WARREN SPAHN - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH CO-SIGNED BY: JOHNNY SAIN - HFSID 279174

WARREN SPAHN, CO-SIGNED BY: JOHNNY SAIN
B/w full-length photograph of Spahn and Sain ("...pray for rain") in Boston Braves colors and standing in the dugout, signed in blue ink
Photograph signed "Warren Spahn" and "Johnny Sain", both in blue ink. B/w, 7¾x9¾ overall, 7x9¼ image. The pitchers are pictured in the uniforms of the Boston Braves, where they were teammates in 1942 and between 1946 and 1951. In their best years (1947-1950), Spahn and Sain had a combined record of 153 games won and 111 lost, a winning percentage of .580, which would translate to 89-90 wins, enough to be a pennant contender. The refrain of "Spahn and Sain and pray for rain" was heard throughout New England. The rest of the pitchers had a winning percentage of only .519. SPAHN (1921-2003, born in Buffalo, New York) is the most winning left-hander in history with 363 victories, all but seven coming with the Boston-Milwaukee Braves. He was a 20-game winner 13 times, including six years in a row; and led the National League in wins eight times and complete games on nine occasions. The Hall of Famer still holds the National League lifetime mark for innings pitched over his 21-year career, during which he hurled two no-hitters and won the 1957 Cy Young Award. Spahn hit 35 home runs in his career, more than any other pitcher. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star in World War II. In 1948, SAIN (1917-2006, born John Franklin Sain in Havana, Arkansas) led the NL with 24 wins, 39 starts, 28 complete games and 314 innings. He won 20 games each year from 1946 to 1948, slumped in 1949, but came back with a 20-13 mark in 1950. In three of his 20-win seasons, Sain led the league in hits allowed. Sent to the Yankees in August 1951, he contributed 11-6 and 14-7 marks to the 1952 and 1953 Yankee pennants, then led the AL with 22 saves in 1954. An excellent-hitting pitcher (.245), Sain averaged .346 in 1947 and .353 in 1954, and he led the NL with 16 sacrifice hits in 1948. Lightly bowed, otherwise in fine condition.