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1883 championship trophy baseball from Connie Mack's first championship team. Connie Mack became a catcher and first attracted notice in 1883, when East Brookfield won the championship of Central Massachusetts. This extraordinary decorated trophy ball commemorates this victory and is the actual game ball that won the championship for the team. Trophy balls from this era are particularly rare. This is a spectacular example. The exceptionally elaborate painted style and intricate craftsmanship of this trophy ball alone make it a great prize. The condition of the ball and its tremendous display value are added pluses. The fact that the East Brookfield team was Connie Mack's first championship team, predating by three years his debut in the Major Leagues with Washington in 1886 and representing his entrée to organized baseball, gives this trophy baseball a simply amazing added dimension of great significance. The intricate central design of the ball presents a complete record of the team's victories during the 1883 season, including scores for each game, under the headline "Cent. Mass. B.B.A. East Brookfield Club." To the right are listed the names and positions of all team members, including Mack, under the headline "The Champions." To the left, the ball is beautifully decorated with the following inscription: "This is the ball that won the Championship of Worcester County 1883 East Brookfield Champions." The figure-eight ball is decorated with lettering in orange, black, and red, over a gray foundation, giving the ball an extremely attractive and distinctive appearance. This is one of the most interesting and unique trophy balls in existence. Our consignor has paired this ball with a 1934 Connie Mack Day program. This scarce and very substantial 64-page program celebrating Mack's 51st year in baseball, and his return home to where his career began for a special exhibition game and ceremonies held in his honor, is an ideal accompaniment to the trophy ball. The program for the event, held at North Brookfield, Massachusetts on July 10, 1934, features a history of Mack's career with almost all focus on Mack's earliest days with the 1883 East Brookfield team. Included is a full-page picture of the team with Mack, captioned "Connie Mack's First Championship Team," as well as records of the team, and portraits of players who participated in games with Connie Mack in East Brookfield in 1883. The trophy ball has a small circular glue mark on the plain painted underside, where it had at one time been attached to a small glass pedestal. (When this ball was discovered and sold at the New England auction house Skinner's in the 1980s, the small round glass pedestal was present. Over the years it has been lost, but could easily be replaced if desired.) In superb Excellent condition with all decorations and inscriptions crisp and bold. Reserve $2,000. Estimate $4,000/$6,000. SOLD FOR $6,960.00