Mike Hampton First Pitch Autographed ball

Date2000 March 29

DescriptionWhite leather baseball with red stitching and blue stamps including "Rawlings," "Official Major League Baseball" and an Opening Series 2000 logo. Ball has been signed in blue ink, "Jon Lieber 32", and in black ink, "Mike Hampton 32."

Bio/Historical NoteBaseball thrown as the first pitch by Mike Hampton of the New York Mets in Major League Baseball's historic Opening Day in Japan on March 29, 2000. The New York Mets played the Chicago Cubs in a two-game series to open the season. Jon Lieber was the starting pitcher for Chicago. This season was also the first time that regular season baseballs were not labeled either American or National League. This ball was the first to feature a stamp of the Commissioner's signature rather than that of a league president.

Object numberB-2000-0129

Artist, Creator, or Manufacturer Rawlings Sporting Goods Company

Subject Chicago Cubs (Baseball team)

Subject New York Mets (Baseball team)

Subject Hampton, Mike, 1972-

Subject Lieber, Jon, 1970-

Subject National League of Professional Baseball Clubs

Subject Major League Baseball (Organization)

Attributes

Classificationssports and athletic equipment

Dimensions3 in. diameter

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