Rod Carew won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1967 and was elected to the first of 18 consecutive All-Star game appearances. Carew stole home seven times in the 1969 season to lead the majors, just missing Ty Cobb's Major League record of eight and the most in the major leagues since Pete Reiser stole seven for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1946. In 1972, Carew led the AL in batting, hitting .318; he had no home runs for the only time in his career. Carew is the only player in the AL or in the modern era to win the batting title with no home runs.

This Rawlings official American League baseball was signed in blue by Carew and inscribed, "HOF 91" and "3053." This baseball includes a JSA sticker and COA.