Quote:
Originally Posted by horzverti
At first glance it appears to be mostly 1954 Milwaukee Braves players' (and team doctor Charles Lack and owner Lou Perini's) signatures. We can narrow the year down to 1954 because George Metkovich was with the Braves for only the 1954 season. I didn't see Hank's signature. I hope that I just missed it. I am not sure why the ball also shows Mickey Owen and Hoot Ever's signatures. These two never played for the Braves in Milwaukee. Initially, I thought it may have been signed during Spring Training and the person had access to multiple teams, but it still doesn't explain the presence of Hoot Ever's ink. Maybe someone else has the answer?
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Agreed, mostly '54 Braves. Also noticed Roy Smalley and Eddie Matthews signatures, and like Metkovich, Smalley only played for the Braves in a single season, 1954. So maybe more verification as well of that date when signed.
However, also saw what looks a signature of George Kell, not the HOFer, but a later namesake that played in the majors. But like Mickey Owen and Hoot Evers, this Kell never played for the Braves in Milwaukee either. But, Owens, Evers, and Kell all did play for the Boston Red Sox in 1954, at least to start the 1954 season. Both Evers and Kell finished the 1954 season with different teams, the Tigers and White Sox, respectively.
Since the Braves used to play in Boston, initially thought this may have to do with a Boston event both teams attended. But since the Braves moved to Milwaukee after the '52 season, and as pointed out already that Smalley and Metkovich both only played for the Braves in '54, the dates/years don't line up for that. Also, sort of reinforcing the connection of this ball to the Braves AND the Red Sox, along with it being from 1954, is the additional fact that Mickey Owen only played a single season with the Red Sox, 1954.
So, question for the OP. Since the Braves and Red Sox both played in Boston at one time, did your grandfather have any connection or affiliation with the city of Boston back around this time, or ever? If not, what about with Milwaukee? If there is no specific event these two teams can be tied to otherwise, is it possible the ball was signed during a 1954 Spring training game between the two teams? In 1954 the Braves trained in Bradenton, Florida, and the Red Sox in Sarasota, Florida, only about 12-13 miles apart. Couldn't find anything on who the Braves may have played in Spring training that year, but being that close to each other and in different leagues, want to bet they played at least a Spring training game or two against one another?
And since Aaron was a relatively unknown and unproven rookie at that time, no one may have even thought or bothered to get his signature on the ball, or maybe he wasn't even in or at the particular game this signed ball may have come from. Though at the Brave's 1954 Spring training, Aaron was still on a Braves minor league team roster and didn't actually sign a major league contract till the last day of Spring training.