1954 Ticket Harry Agganis HR #7 YR/Life Boston Red Sox Win Vs Tigers/Jensen HR

This is a ticket stub from June 6, 1954 for a game played at Fenway Park in Boston between the host Red Sox and the visiting Detroit Tigers. The Red Sox won 7-4 as the ill-fated Harry Agganis hit his 7th home run of the season. He was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI. Jackie Jensen and Ted Lepcio also homered for Boston. For Detroit, Ray Boone and Frank Bolling hit home runs and young Al Kaline went 0-for-3.

After the HR and game Harry rushed out of Fenway park a mile down the street to receive his cap and gown on stage at Boston University. A script made for Hollywood. A local boy to hit a home run and receive diploma at BU , the school he chose in part to be with his mother.

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 Aristotle George "Harry" Agganis  (April 20, 1929 – June 27, 1955), Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, nicknamed "The Golden Greek", Agganis first gained notice as the greatest athlete to emerge from the greater Boston area ever.  In 1946 his team won the National High School Championship in the Orange Bowl. Harry and his teamates voted to decline a trip in 1947, his senior year as the South would not allow two of his Afro-American teamates to play.  In 1947 as a high school player he lead Lynn Classical to win the State Championship in baseball. In High School at the Manning Bowl his teams often played before 20,000 fans. 

   In 1946 Harry rejected offers from 75 colleges including Notre Dame to play for near by Boston University to be near his mother as his father passed away in 1946. As a college football player #33, would draw crowds in the 30,000 becoming the first person in school history to be named All-American, held all BU passing records, while playing, fullback, punter, and quarterback. Harry was elected in to the  College Football Hall Of Fame. Boston University named an arena after him. He passed a professional career with the Cleveland Browns in order to play his favorite sport, baseball, close to his hometown. 

   Agganis was signed to a bonus baby contract in baseball, and after one season 1953 playing minor league baseball Harry for Louisville hit 23 homeruns and 108 RBI. In 1954 Harry wearing #6, returned from one and a half years of military service during the Korea War and  became the starting first baseman for the Boston Red Sox where he hit 11 Homeruns, often batting clean-up behind Ted Williams, while leading the league in assists, he hit  a grand slam,  hit homeruns in the same game as Mickey Mantle twice and he and Hank Aaron played inthere first exhibit game in Milwaukee with a ML team at a ML Stadium.  Local Hero, one of Bostons's favorite sports stars Harry could do it all.  

  Harry was likly to play football for the Baltimore Colts for the 1955 season, but he died suddenly in the prime of his life at the age of 26 before the 1955 baseball All-Star break after developing pneumonia. I have over 100 rare items in my eBay store on Harry.

Ted Williams, one of the best and most loved athletes of all times.Ted won two triple crowns, six batting titles, two MVP awards. Mr Boston Red Sox. Known as the greatest hitter who ever lived. Last player to hit 406. Voted best player of the decade 1950's. First home run 1939, last in his last at bat at Fenway Park in 1960. Missed five prime years fighting in two wars, an American war hero and top pilot, flew with John Glenn, a leader of the Jimmy Fund to fight children's cancer, a world respected fisherman, manager of the year in 1969 with the Washington Senators. Brought fans to their feet and light up a room when he spoke. He knew the art of hitting like no other. Moody but a great autograph signer as I got him myself in the 1960's with Jim Thorpe. A big laugh and a tragic death. An American Icon. This man offers tons of items to be collected and displayed: cards, tickets, publications, odd ball and none better than a teddy ballgame autograph. See his items in my Ebay store.

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