OLDEST BASEBALL UP FOR HIGHEST BIDDER, 1999-09-16 (photo)

A handmade baseball which once belonged to Alexander Cartwright, the "Father" of modern baseball, is on display September 15 at Sotheby's in Beverly Hills. The ball, believed to be the first ever of its type, was used in a game between the New York Knickerbockers Baseball Club and a cricket team in 1846. Baseball memorabilia from renowned collector Barry Halper, the largest privately owned collection in existance, will go to the highest bidders at Sotheby's in New York September 23 thru 29. The collection includes 1,000 uniforms, hundreds of which are signed, 1,800 baseballs, 400 bats, 4,000 photographs as well as contracts, rings, pins and gloves. CFM/HB