If there was a “Cy Young Award” for pitching perfection back in 1911, the winner could have been...Cy Young! He retired after the 1911 season with an record 511 wins, ending his historic playing days in the National League with Boston. A few short days before he pitched his final winning game, this future Hall of Famer carefully autographed the earliest authentic single signed baseball that we have ever seen. It is neatly signed “Cy Young Sept. 17, 1911,” in dark black ink on the side panel. Although he didn’t pitch that day, the date, written is Cy’s hand, was at the culmination of a remarkable career that he himself felt was over. The portly pitcher told an interviewer that while his arm was strong as ever, he could not field bunts as well as he once could, adding “when the third baseman has to do my work for me, it’s time to quit.” And so he did. But his name and his unmatched winning record, went on to live in baseball history throughout the rest of the century...and beyond. While Cy Young’s signature on the baseball is splendidly clear, there is some toning, and a brown patina with red and black stitching on the ball. This is an Official National League game used baseball although the official stamping has disappeared with use and age. As the earliest single signed baseball that we know of, this is definitely one Cy Young winner that any major league baseball fan will want to grab and not let hold of.