This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/7/2025
He was now a member of a very exclusive club. Members included Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, and Jimmie Foxx. The feat was to hit HR #500.
Mays' milestone came on Sept. 13 at the newly opened Astrodome. Leading off the 4th inning he homered to center field off Don Nottebart to tie the score 1-1. The distance was estimated at 410 feet. The Giants went on to win the game 5-1, running their winning streak to 11 straight on the way to 14.
The ball was grabbed up by Mrs. Sallie B. Norman, a local woman. Eddie Logan, the Giants' equipment manager, rushed to her seat in left center and offered her an autographed ball in trade, but she held onto the home run ball.
After the game, Mays told the media, "Don't make her look bad. Don't make her do nothing. It's hers and she can do what she wants." Mays was given the woman's phone number, but he said he doubted he would call her. "She can have it," he said. (per Bob Lemke)
MEARS research could not find any mentions of the ball again. Recently, the ball re-surfaced in a Houston area storage locker attributed to Sallie B. Norman.
MEARS has examined the ball and confirmed it is a period correct Official National League Warren Giles baseball with correct Spalding stamp. Written in period ink which was examined with a digital microscope confirming the originality of the notation was “Astrodome, Sept 13, 1965” and on the sweetspot, “Willie Mays hit 500th Home run”.
Truly historic relic. Letter from consignor states, “I received this Willie Mays 500 HR baseball in a trade. It was located in a recovered storage unit with what I believe to be the personal belongings of Sallie B. Norman.” Additional letter from MEARS.
He was now a member of a very exclusive club. Members included Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, and Jimmie Foxx. The feat was to hit HR #500.
Mays' milestone came on Sept. 13 at the newly opened Astrodome. Leading off the 4th inning he homered to center field off Don Nottebart to tie the score 1-1. The distance was estimated at 410 feet. The Giants went on to win the game 5-1, running their winning streak to 11 straight on the way to 14.
The ball was grabbed up by Mrs. Sallie B. Norman, a local woman. Eddie Logan, the Giants' equipment manager, rushed to her seat in left center and offered her an autographed ball in trade, but she held onto the home run ball.
After the game, Mays told the media, "Don't make her look bad. Don't make her do nothing. It's hers and she can do what she wants." Mays was given the woman's phone number, but he said he doubted he would call her. "She can have it," he said. (per Bob Lemke)
MEARS research could not find any mentions of the ball again. Recently, the ball re-surfaced in a Houston area storage locker attributed to Sallie B. Norman.
MEARS has examined the ball and confirmed it is a period correct Official National League Warren Giles baseball with correct Spalding stamp. Written in period ink which was examined with a digital microscope confirming the originality of the notation was “Astrodome, Sept 13, 1965” and on the sweetspot, “Willie Mays hit 500th Home run”.
Truly historic relic. Letter from consignor states, “I received this Willie Mays 500 HR baseball in a trade. It was located in a recovered storage unit with what I believe to be the personal belongings of Sallie B. Norman.” Additional letter from MEARS.
(02A0236)