This is the “last out” ball of the 1981
World Series in which the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the
New York Yankees, 4 games to 2. The ball was given to
Durwood Merrill (who was an American League umpire for
23 years, 1977-1999), by Game six’s 1st base umpire
Larry Barnett, a longtime American League umpire and
a friend of Merrill’s. Merrill had umpired in
the 1981 American League Championship Series and according
to his letter to me that accompanied this ball, Barnett,
knowing that Merrill liked these historic baseballs,
gave him this ball soon after the Series was over.
This was The Dodgers first Series victory since 1965 and
first over the Yankees since 1963.
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