Sports memorabilia continues to roll out of America’s basements.
Sometimes literally.
In Plantsville, CT, someone stashed a prized baseball so well that it wasn’t found until the buyers of the old house began tearing it apart.
Pete Cammuso, his son Anthony and Pete’s nephew, Jake were tearing down sheetrock inside the home, which Pete had just purchased from a local bank when a ball rolled off the sill of the foundation and landed at their feet. In the dark, dank confines, it was almost tossed out. Fortunately, Jake called his uncle and cousin over for a closer look in the light.
The illumination revealed autographs from members of the 1952 New York Yankees including the early scribble of a very young Mickey Mantle. Five other Hall of Famers’ names are also on the signed ball, which despite apparently being stored without protection for more than 60 years, remained in pretty good shape.
The home had been vacant for more than five years. The original owner moved out in 1997 is no longer living.
The Cammusos brought the ball to the recent East Coast National sports card and memorabilia show in White Plains, NY, to learn more and have it evaluated.
Writing for Forbes, David Seideman chronicled a find that has to be among the year’s coolest.
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