1903 Pottsville PA Receipts - Signature Recognition
 

I just picked up a lot of 1903 Pottsville, PA baseball receipts and was hoping to get a little help on the signatures. The only one that I recognize is the first one, Harry Smith - Philadelphia Giants. Any help would be appreciated.

Attachment 170630

Attachment 170631

Attachment 170632

Alfred Lawson (Reading) was a major league player before he became a manager.

My initial thought was also that it might be Alfred Lawson, the former player etc, but his middle name began with a W, not a J, as it appears to be in a receipt below. It certainly could be the ballplayer Lawson, but I am not sure. Lawson was a very interesting person, player, manager, aviator, sailor, baseball game designer, and it was his famous sign on the scoreboard at Fenway Park during the 1912 World Series. If it is that Lawson, it might explain the "nuff ced" near his name, as he was a friend of nuff ced Mcgreevey. I hope it is the ballplayer, there must be some autographs around to compare.

Here is a vintage example I have. I didn't bother to check the signatures, just mentioned that Lawson was a former major leaguer.

I have 3-4 other examples of his signature as well signed later in life.

Rhys

Added a couple more

Attachment 170927

Could the "A.J Lawson" be his brother Alexander Lawson?

"This article presents a side to Lawson seldom evidenced elsewhere. For one thing, it shows he was still (as of 1903) close to his family. His brother Alexander came to Reading to help manage Al's team;"

http://morefiends.typepad.com/more_fiends/baseball/

That would explain it. I think the Al W Lawson letter on Reading letterhead comes close to clinching it.

To me it appears that one of the receipts is signed by Alfred and the other possibly by Alexander.

holy moly I think you have Heinie Wagner there!

Anybody have a Heinie Wagner for comparison?

No clue who it is but that looks more like "W.T. Hynes" to me. Assuming the Wagner speculation is directed towards the bottom image.

Its Ch. F. Wagner.

Couldn't the Lawson signature just say "Al Lawson"? It looks like Al to me.

Edited to add Heinie Wagner played for Newark in 1903.

Doesnt mean he didnt play a game for them or against them. Also the odds that it is another charles f. Wagner seems unlikely (possible but unlikely)

I suppose that's possible but the Pottsville team and the Newark team were in two different leagues. Wagner also played 120 games for Newark that year which seems like a busy schedule.

I could also see that signature reading W.F Wagner and not necessarily Chas F Wagner. Last name may not be Wagner either.

I could still see him getting paid to cover for a ss that week or something. Lots of possibilities. I wish someone could pull up an example of his auto.

I agree

Last name definitely not Wagner, looks like Hynes to me as well.

Here is a close up along with a possible Wagner signature.

Attachment 171411

Attachment 171414

It is W.F. Hynes, Manager of the Lebanon, Pennsylvania team in 1903.

Rhys

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yep, here is some info I found on W.F. Hynes from 1902. He was managing a team in PA at that time. def. him. http://library.la84.org/SportsLibrar.../SL3903010.pdf

Also here is Heinie Wagners sig circa 1918

Attachment 172249