Don Grate Autographed Official Major League Baseball Inscribed 445'-1 8/27/56

Don Grate was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1945 to 1946 and had a 13-season long minor league career, where he was later converted to an outfielder to take advantage of his skill as a hitter. Though he batted over .300 several times in his career, Grate was known for his incredible throwing arm. After breaking his own record several times, he set the throwing record in 1956 when the threw the ball 445-feet and 1-inch. The record was broken in 1957 by Glen Gorbous by 9 inches, but Grate felt the conditions weren’t equal and his record should have stayed. Along with playing baseball, he was an All-American basketball player for Ohio State and played in the NBA with Sheybogan. Grate passed away in 2014 at the age of 91. This Rawlings official Major League baseball was personally hand signed and inscribed "445' - 1", 8/27/56" by Don Grate. The signature includes authentication from PSA/DNA.