Help identifying 1938 Pirates autographs (3)

[Theoldprofessor]

Howdy folks,

This is turning into a series. Thanks for all your help!

I'm pretty confident that this is a 1938 Pirates ball. I'm stumped by 3 signatures this time around - one that is badly faded and the others that simply don't match anyone who I can identify as being on or related to the Pirates in '38 (or the surrounding years, for that matter).

So, first up, the faded signature that appears below Red Lucas. To me the first name looks like "Hank," but the closest approximation I can find would be Rip Sewell if he signed "Banks." I think that's a longshot.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8892449/1938-pirates-1.jpg

Second, I have no ideas about the two signatures below Pep Young and above Ray Berres.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/8892449/1938-pirates-2.jpg

The first appears to start with "Lark..." and the second appears to end with "Duke" but I can't find any mention of players / managers / owners / scouts that would match.

As always, any help is appreciated. Thanks!

[Theoldprofessor]

Ok I think I have one of them. Somehow I missed "Marvin Duke" in my dad's notes. Duke doesn't appear on http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/pit/history/players.jsp or on http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/1938.shtml. But there is a mention of him pitching against Chicago in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from 4/15/38.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/88658734/

And there is a passage about him being sent down to Montreal in May of '38 in Ronald T. Waldo's book, Pennant Hopes Dashed... on page 99.

https://books.google.com/books?id=CkcLXCSWZrMC&lpg=PA99&ots=0DKqBIb2Bg&dq=%22marvin%20duke%22%20pittsburgh%20pirates&pg=PA99#v=onepage&q=%22marvin%20duke%22%20pittsburgh%20pirates&f=false

So, one down, two to go!

[Steve D]

The one above Honus Wagner and below Red Lucas could be Paul Waner. The first letter looks to be a match with Waner's "P" on PSA/DNA autographs I just looked at on ebay.

Steve

[RelicSports]

I agree with Steve on the first being Paul Waner. I would suggest Lee Handley for the second question mark, but I could be wrong.

[Theoldprofessor]

The one above Honus Wagner and below Red Lucas could be Paul Waner. The first letter looks to be a match with Waner's "P" on PSA/DNA autographs I just looked at on ebay.

Steve
Steve! Genius!

You're absolutely right. Holding a flashlight to it makes the last name come out a little. Also, thanks for confirming Wagner for me... I was about 85% on that one :)

[Steve D]

I agree with Steve on the first being Paul Waner. I would suggest Lee Handley for the second question mark, but I could be wrong.



That's the conclusion I just came too also. I can see "Handley" there, but there appear to be 2-3 too many letters in the first name for it to be "Lee", but it does bear a resemblance to Handley's signatures on ebay.


Steve

[Theoldprofessor]

I agree with Steve on the first being Paul Waner. I would suggest Lee Handley for the second question mark, but I could be wrong.
Yes, the "L" is similar and I could possibly see the last name being correct. But there's too much going on in the first name for it to be Lee. Looks like either an "a" an "o" or (a stretch) a "u". But there's definitely an ascender before what appears to be a capital H.

I'll keep digging. Thanks guys!

[Michael B]

Handley signed with his middle initial which was E. Middle name was Elmer.