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Need Help IDing Braves Autos
8 Attachment(s)
Hey. I just purchased this 1978 signed ball. It appears to include Buzz Capra but he was released on March 30, which made me think it was from spring training, but that signature is just above Gene Garber, who was traded to the Braves for Dick Ruthven on June 15 and also has Bob Horner (I think)(just below Barry Bonnell) who wasn't even drafted 'til June. It also includes Rick Mahler (right below Dale Murphy), who didn't get to the majors 'til '79, though his brother Mickey was with the '78 club. Very Confusing. Any and all help with be greatly appreciated.
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My instinct is that this is definitely a 1978/ 1979 ( edit date fingers don't type well ) Atlanta Braves ball. Possibly signed at various times thru the season since there are 2 Horner signatures on it and the timing of the players / roster moves or a Fan Fest signed baseball or clubhouse /locker room baseball that teams used to sign.
First Row Bob Veale Leo Mazzone Barry Bonnell Bob Horner Cloyd Boyer Mike Macha Bob Beall Jeff Burrroughs Second Row Bob Horner Ed Miller Larry Bradford Jerry Maddox Buzz Capra Gene Garber Third Row Left Larry McWilliams Charlie Spikes Bruce Benedict Luke Appling Mike Lum Third Row right Dale Murphy Rick Mahler Jerry Royster Phil Niekro Hank Small John Sain Fourth Row left Bob Cox on SS |
Looks like you also have Bob Veale, who was apparently a pitching instructor in the organization as per the below. So maybe some minor leaguers were there for some occasion.
The Red Sox training staff worked on Veale’s arm throughout the year, and he was able to appear in 18 games. But as the season progressed, he was used sparingly, pitching only 13 innings, with an ERA of 5.54. His last major-league appearance came on September 8 against the Milwaukee Brewers. Once the season was over, he made it known that he would like to stay in baseball as a coach or minor-league instructor, and while he had to sit out the 1975 season, he was hired in 1976 by the Atlanta Braves as a minor-league pitching instructor. On his way to the Braves’ West Palm Beach spring training camp in February of 1977, Veale drove his car into a canal when he became drowsy from medication he had taken for the flu. “Believe me, I’m lucky,” he said. “Two feet either side of where I went into and I’d have hit a concrete culvert head-on.”22 Despite his scare, Veale enjoyed his new job. “I love it,” he said. “Actually, it’s more challenging than playing. There’s great satisfaction in being in a position to move young fellows up to the major leagues. That’s what life is all about.”23 |
It also looks like it has Charlie Spikes who did not join the Braves till 79
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