Highly desirable and rarely offered US Presidential signed baseball from one of the most significant leaders in the history of the country. Moderately toned Wm. Harridge American League baseball which has been signed across the sweet spot in black fountain pen by President Roosevelt. The autograph remains clearly legible varying in strength from 4-7 out of 10. "1935" written in unknown hand (possibly Bob Burke) is found in period black ink on the panel beneath. This particular baseball was relayed to have originated from the collection of former Washington Senators relief pitcher Bob Burke as evidenced within the accompanying 1935 Washington Herald newspaper and article. It was customary when the sitting President threw out the first pitch of the season that the Senators players would join in a scrum on the field to catch the treasured sphere. To open the 1935 season, President Roosevelt threw out the ceremonial first pitch to which Burke was the lucky receiver. Accompanying the baseball is the original Washington Herald newspaper depicting the President preparing to throw the pitch and Burke catching the ball in another vignette image. President Roosevelt presided over the country during one of the most harrowing periods in world history gaining popularity abroad perhaps greater than any other US leader before or since. Roosevelt was a great fan of the game and most notably penned one of the most significant sports related letters in US history on January 15, 1942, "The Green Light Letter". MLB Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis had asked the President as to whether baseball should continue, given the weight of the US entry into WWII. Roosevelt swiftly replied with the Green Light Letter which read, in part, "I honestly feel that it would be best for the country to keep baseball going. There will be fewer people unemployed and everybody will work longer hours and harder than ever before.....And that means that they ought to have a chance for recreation and for taking their minds off their work even more than before....Here is another way of looking at it - if 300 teams use 5,000 or 6,000 players, these players are a definite recreational asset to at least 20,000,000 of the fellow citizens - and that in my judgment is thoroughly worthwhile.” Baseball, and the country, continued and prevailed. One of only a scant few known example of the great historical import. Includes full LOA from PSA/DNA, April 18, 1935 Washington Herald newspaper, and small newspaper image showing President throwing the ball and denoting Burke as recipient: Ball :VG-EX, Signature: Range VG-EX/MT