Considering the eclectic mix of baseball lifers who have signed this baseball, it undoubtedly has a compelling story. Unfortunately, its unknown provenance prevents us from telling it. What we can say is sometime around the turn from Woodstock to disco, this ball was passed around at a gathering of aging Hall of Famers and contains the autographs of 24 members. Most prominent is George Sisler (died ’73) in 8/10 blue ink on the north panel alongside Jesse Haines (d. ’78), Chick Hafey (d. ’73), Waite Hoyt and Sam Rice (d. ’74). The sweet spot holds Casey Stengel (d. ’75) and Stan Coveleski; the west panel has Lefty Grove (d. ’75), Lloyd Waner, Joe DiMaggio and Bill Terry; and the east panel has Rube Marquard, Joe Medwick (d. ’75), Ford C. Frick (d. ’78), Zack Wheat (d. ’72), Edd Roush, Earle Combs (d. ’76) and Pie Traynor (d. ’72). Franky Frisch (d. ’73) has signed upside down over the OAL (Cronin) stamp. Rounding out the list on the south panel, which is dated “1969” in an unknown hand, are Warren C. Giles (d. ’79), Joe McCarthy (d. ’78), Urban “Red” Faber (d. ’76), Max Carey (d. ’76) and Joe Cronin. (Bob Feller and Burleigh Grimes have been deemed Clubhouse by James Spence Authentication.)

Any dedicated team signed ball collector knows how tough it is to find a 1930s or 1960s Yankees ball with a legit McCarthy or Stengel signature – nearly all are Clubhouse. Not only does it have both Bronx managers, but this ball also has three league presidents: Frick, Giles and Cronin. Most intriguing is the number of signers (16 of 24) who would perish in the 1970s, making it among the last baseballs many would be able to autograph. The 1960-69 era Joe Cronin ball has retained a clean, creamy-white surface other than a soiled area on the east panel. The signatures – all in blue or black ink other than Grove in red) – range mostly 6-8/10 in strength and eye appeal. Includes full LOA from JSA.