Original George H. Sosnak folk art handpainted baseball with handwritten statistics and facts about the career of Joe DiMaggio. Signed by DiMaggio in ballpoint pen. Signed by Sosnak (American, 1922-1992) and dated 1988. This is an atypical example. Apparently Sosnak usually got the ball signed first, then decorated around the signature. Occasionally he would decorate the ball, then send it to the player or hang onto it until he ran into the player at an event, then he'd get the player to sign it. It is apparent that he made the ball first, then had DiMaggio sign it, which means that DiMaggio was able to admire the finished product, as opposed to simply signing a blank ball. Colors are exceptionally bright, and signature is crisp and unfaded. Unconditionally guaranteed to be authentic, without reservation or time limit. DiMaggio is one of the most desirable Sosnak baseballs, and the fully decorated version is rarer still.