Bert Shepard Autographed Baseball Inscribed P-38 Pilot Shot Down Over Germany POW

Bert Shepard was a pilot in the US Army Air Force. During World War II in Germany, his fighter plane was shot down, which resulted in him having to have his right leg amputated while in a German POW camp. While in the camp, a Canadian doctor produced an artificial leg for him, and he taught himself to walk and pitch again. When he returned to the United States, he attended spring training in 1945, and the Senators hired him as a pitching coach. He pitched in exhibition games and batting practice, and then got the call to enter a game on August 4 in the 4th inning against the Red Sox, making him the first man with an artificial leg to pitch in a major league game. He pitched an impressive 5 1/3 innings in relief, striking out the first batter he faced and only allowing 3 hits and 1 run. In between games of a double header on August 31, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for his service in WWII. Shepard passed away in 2008 at the age of 87. This Rawlings official American League baseball was hand signed and inscribed "P-38 Pilot, Shot Down over Germany, POW 8 Mo." by Bert Shepard. The autograph includes authentication from PSA/DNA.