I didn't want to post until the auction ended, but now that it is over I'd love to get more thoughts.
This baseball was listed as: Lot # 402: 1940’S SATCHEL PAIGE SINGLE SIGNED “NEGRO AMERICAN LEAGUE” BASEBALL
The 2 basic problems are:
1) The signature "Satchel" only has 1 "L" indicating the ball was signed after 1948. (In at least some 1948 Indians team signed baseballs he still signed with 2 "L's")
2) The specific baseball to the best of my knowledge did not exist before the 1950's. According to Keyman it didn't exist until 1956:
http://keymancollectibles.com/balls/...uebaseball.htm
Based on these 2 I felt that the listing describing the ball as "1940's" was almost definitely inaccurate, and it was much more likely that the ball was signed in the 50's (possibly connected to a barnstorming tour.)
Anyone agree or disagree with the conclusion? Is it strong enough reason to have reasonably changed the listing or is it not enough?