There are performers famous enough to need only one name. Think Cher. Sting. Bono.
Athletes too. Magic. Ichiro. Pele.
The same goes for baseballs. There’s the Merkle ball, sold at auction last month. And the Mookie Ball.
That little sphere that changed so many lives in 1986 is now on display at CitiField, home of the Mets. The team’s museum is showing it off thanks to a decision by its owner, Seth Swirsky, to loan it for display.
Swirsky bought it at auction when actor Charlie Sheen–once an avid collector–decided to sell off some of his pieces.
It’s probably one of the most important pieces of baseball memorabilia from the last half century, thanks to the magnitude of the moment and also the provenance behind it–some of which is recorded on the ball itself.
Ash Marshall has the story of the ball from that October night until now–and chats with the owner.
