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. . . I'm having fun with this, but a couple more scans might be useful. If you are game, please post the additional scans as requested below. I in no way consider myself skilled at signature verification, but who doesn't like to play "detective" from time to time.
Regarding this ball:
On your second scanned image, I too see lettering for Sept ?? 1917
But I would love to see another image where the area above 1917 is centered, so that I could try and make out that word. I can't tell what letter(s) preceeding and following "a" are. It does appear to be a capital "M" present too; perhaps for "M"urnane ?
On your third image, I make out a possible "th" at the right end of the second row of text. Could those last four printed letters spell Ruth ?
The also appears to be the numbers "02" at the end of the third row of print. I would love to have a better scan of the first row of letters, inorder to try and make those words out.
On your fourth image, that appears to be a signature along the left side (next to the seam). My imagination sees the letters Geo M???
On the fifth image, I initially thought the signature at the top might be ?al?? (Walter) Johnson, but I do not see enough spacing between the letters "al" and "J" to make this possible. But I do think it possible the last name could be Johnson.
Regarding your first image, I don't think that is Ruth's signature. I am only basing my opinion on the representation of the R in Ruth from this prior auction lot of a signed ball from Murnane's Benefit Game:
http://www.legendaryauctions.com/Lot...px?lotid=44837
Just my two cents. Hope makes us see things that may not be there. But every once in a great while, hope and actuality do meet.