Phil Niekro had a legendary 24-year career that saw him retire in the top ten on the all-time strikeouts list (he sits at #13 today), a three-time 20-game winner (and two-time 20-game loser) with a lifetime ERA of 3.35. An outstanding defensive pitcher, Niekro won five Gold Gloves, was a five-time all-star, and was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1997. On October 6, 1985, the final game of the season for the New York Yankees, Niekro won his 300th game, putting a complete game, four-hit shutout against Toronto. At 46 years old, Niekro finished the season with a 16-12 record, starting 33 games and pitching 220 innings for the Yankees.

The General Manager of that Yankees team was Clyde King, and as a gesture of appreciation, Niekro presented King with an inscribed practice ball from the game.  The Rawlings OAL (Brown) baseball is inscribed as follows:

Clyde

This is my warm up ball. My special thanks to you for believing in me. 

Phil Niekro

300

10-6-85

The inscription, written from the west panel to the east across the sweet spot, has faded considerably with time, though the west panel remains strong and legible. The ball is soiled; as an official ball used during Niekro's warmups it would have been rubbed with mud prior to the game.  There are no scuffs or indents or fingernail impressions; Niekro's famous knuckleball is what gave him a 24-year career.  The baseball is, however, a tremendous artifact, a surviving player-used baseball from Niekro's 300th victory, an amazing achievement for a 46-year-old pitcher.  Full LOA from James Spence Authentication.