1945 World Series Baseball Used to Record Final Out. Historic orb represents the final moment of Fall Classic action for the long-suffering Chicago Cubs, whose last grip on World Championship hope was surrendered when Don Johnson grounded this ball to Detroit Tigers shortstop Skeeter Webb, who flipped it to second baseman Eddie Mayo to retire the side in the bottom of Game Seven's ninth inning. Hall of Fame pitcher Hal Newhouser notched the complete game Championship-sealing victory for the Motor City club.

Cubs shortstop Roy Hughes was the baserunner forced out in the Series' final play, and when the ball was dropped to the ground by the jubilant Tigers second baseman, Hughes was smart enough to pick it up and save it for posterity. The well-worn sphere spent about two decades in Hughes' possession before he donated it to The Cy Young Museum (later renamed The Ohio Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum) in the mid-1960's. In 2002, the contents of this museum were sold at auction, at which time Swirsky came into possession. Hughes has inscribed the side panel of the ONL (Frick) ball in 9+/10 black fountain pen ink, "Roy Hughes, Last ball of 1945 World Series." Letter of provenance from Mike Heffner (2002 auctioneer). Pre-certified by PSA/DNA (autograph). Auction LOA from James Spence Authentication (autograph).