More than a century ago the Philadelphia Athletics enjoyed a glorious five-season run under legendary manager Connie Mack winning three World Series and four pennants from 1910 through 1914. A's stars such as Hall of Famers Eddie Plank Eddie Collins Albert "Chief" Bender and Frank "Home Run" Baker were the core of Mack's dominant franchise.

The offered ball dates from the culmination of the Athletics glorious run. The 1914 Athletics won the American League pennant only to lose to the ”Miracle” Braves in the World Series.  1914 marked the end of the Athletics dynasty that remains today one of the most formidable in Major League history.  A year later Mack shocked the sports world by abruptly dismantling it.

This official American League (Johnson) ball features 21 signatures form the 1914 Philadelphia Athletics plus the curious addition of Ty Cobb (then a member of the Detroit Tigers). Signatures include Hall of Famers; Plank Collins Bender Baker and Mack in addition to Strunk Oldring Shawkey Bressler Schang Thomas Barry Coombs Murphy McInnis Lapp Bush Davis Kopf Walsh and Wyckoff.  The black ink signatures range from 4-8/10 averaging 6/10. The coveted and scarcely seen signature of Eddie Plank (d.1926) is among the more legible and clearly identifiable. The interesting and desirable addition of Cobb (8/10) on the sweet spot is followed by his salutation “To his friend Warren Whitney.” The ball has toned throughout under a coat of shellac but still retains excellent display quality.

Pre-1920 team signed baseballs are extraordinarily scarce in today’s marketplace with the offered example being one of the more important and exceptional examples to have surfaced in recent years.

Full LOA's from JSA and Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication.