2016 Spring Memorabilia Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/10/2016
Cary Middlecoff Signed Masters Used Golf Ball to Ralph H - '1955' and 'Augusta' Also Noted
If this was just a period golf ball dating to the 1950's signed by the 1955 Masters champion Cary Middlecoff it would be exceedingly RARE and worth thousands of dollars for its scarcity to Masters champion autographed ball collectors. But this is so much more, it is a match used ball (most likely, the final putt from the 1955 Masters). It hails from the collection of Ralph Hutchison who was the green side announcer at the 18th hole of the '55 Masters(You can read more about Hutchison and Jack Nicklaus' own words from his autobiography about "Hutch" asking him for his 1963 Masters winning ball in the paragraph below)(Also please see photos attached to this lot which show Ralph Hutchison with Arnie/Winnie Palmer, Ben Hogan and Bobby Jones). The Wilson Staff #7 golf ball (which bears consistent on course use) bears the vintage 50's ink signature which reads "To Ralph H(utchinson) Cary Middlecoff 1955 Augusta. All of which has been penned in the hand of Middlecoff as deemed by world wide recognized autograph experts James Spence Authentication (JSA)in there full letter of authenticity which will come with this item.
Also coming with this ball will be the identifying plaque card which Hutchison used to identify this treasured ball which still bears hints of the mounting adhesive he used. This is not a mere signed ball from Middlecoff, it is a true piece of Masters and golf history which needs to be proudly displayed in one of the finest collections in the world. Opportunities of this magnitude seldom arise.
RALPH HUTCHISON COLLECTION OF CHAMPIONSHIP USED GOLF BALLS--Who is Ralph Hutchison? How did he acquire these historically significant golf balls? Ralph Hutchison, whose great-Uncle was golf Hall of Famer Jock Hutchison grew up in the Oklahoma City area with Jack Grout (the primary instructor of Jack Nicklaus), although Nicklaus would call Hutchison "my second favorite teacher". Hutchison in 1931 became a golf professional and worked under Tommy Armour and Ed Dudley. When Dudley was named the first head professional at the Augusta National Golf Club, he took along Hutchison as his first assistant."Hutch" held this position from 1932-35 a time period which saw him meet Bobby Jones with the two becoming close friends. So close, that Jones recommended Hutchinson in '35 for the Head Pro's job at Saucon Valley in Bethlehem, PA. He held the position for over 39 years while still competing during his early career with appearances in PGA tournaments primarily in the Winter Tour. During this time period he reunited to travel by car to the various tournament stops with Jack Grout and a third young aspiring pro by the name of Ben Hogan (confirmed by Hogan in one of his few later life TV interviews with CBS in 1983). In 1945, Hutchinson reached the quarter finals of the PGA Championship falling to Claude Harmon. This performance however earned him an invite to play in the 1946 Masters.
In 1947, the Augusta National was taking the first steps to better keep fans in the know of play on the course as they installed the first field scoreboards. A conversation from the year before, at the Masters, between Hutchinson and his old friend Bobby Jones led to "Hutch" being positioned at the 18th green as an announcer. As the players approached the 18th Hutchinson would greet them, following up after they putted out with an announcement of what they shot for that day and for the tournament. He carried this position at the Masters through 1971 along with his additional tournament duties on the rules and pairings committees. In addition to the Masters as both player and announcer, Hutchison also combined for this same unique combo at the U.S. Open playing in six events while serving the U.S.G.A. as it's 18th hole announcer at 15 other Open Championships.
With all of this major golf experience, and personal relationships with the top players of the game Ralph Hutchison developed a sense for preserving the history of the game. This is bore out in the words of Jack Nicklaus from his 1997 autobiography page 105. Nicklaus describes his 1963 first Masters win, "As I'd walked onto the eighteenth green, the announcer there, Ralph Hutchison, had asked me to save the ball if I won and give it to Bob Jones. When the winning putt dropped, I just had to throw something, so I whipped off my cap and slung it to the crowd. At the ceremony a little later, Mr. Jones and I made an exchange. After he and the previous year's champion Arnold Palmer, had presented me with my green jacket, I gave Bob the ball. It was a small thing, but the look in his eyes remains one of the most emotional memories of my life." So Bobby Jones got the winning ball in 1963 from Jack Nicklaus not Ralph Hutchinson, but "Hutch" got plenty of others for his collection in the same manor. It is a great honor for The Golf Auction to present to the collecting world historical Championship balls from Ralph Hutchinson's days as the 18th hole announcer at both the Masters and United States Open. These include Ben Hogan's from his 1951 U.S. Open win, Ed Furgol's from his 1954 U.S. Open win, Cary Middlecoff's from his 1955 Masters win and Arnold Palmer's from his first major triumph at the 1958 Masters.
Please note: This auction will end at 7:00pm EST on Sunday, APRIL 10th with EXTENDED BIDDING to follow. All items in the auction will remain open until no items have received a bid within a 15 minute time period. All lots are free to be bid on until extended bidding has ended
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