1929 Chicago Cubs Murder’s Row Signed Baseball (5) Rogers Hornsby, Kiki Cuyler, Hack Wilson etc. – JSA & PSA/DNA

Through the late 1920s, the deafening blare of “Murderer’s Row” simply wouldn’t subside. The term, of course, was an epithet adopted by the 1927 Yankee sluggers (and in particular – Ruth, Gehrig, Combs, Lazzeri, and Bob Meusel, whose composite numbers were .347 average, 139 home runs, and 608 RBI).

Here’s a baseball autographed by a different “Murderer’s Row” than to which we are accustomed – that of the slugging quintet of the 1929 Chicago Cubs. The sluggers on the Row of the Cubs included Rogers Hornsby, Kiki Cuyler, Hack Wilson, and Riggs Stephenson, each described by their familiar names (Rajah, Kiki, Hack, and Stevie). They were evidently taking umbrage to those damn Yankees.

The latter five penned their signatures to this ONL (Heydler) baseball. The medium, with its red and black stitching, is mildly toned. From the west panel and extending into the sweet spot we find the signature of Rogers Hornsby (“3”); then on the east panel extending into the sweet spot, there appears Capt. Charlie Grim (“4”); Hack Wilson (“2”) and Riggs Stephenson (“2”) signed the north panel, and the south panel holds Kiki Cuyler (“3”) (along with a small stamping “Courtesy of Majestic Radio”). Impressive as all this might be, however, there’s penned beneath Grimm’s signature a handwritten inscription, “Murderer’s Row Chicago Cubs Champions 1929.” These five masters at the bat recorded a .351 average, with 120 home runs, and 611 RBI in that pennant-winning 1929 season.

Authentication: JSA Auction House Letter & PSA/DNA Auction House Letter