[Shoeless Moe]

I'm willing to say less then 1% of this board has heard of the Panama "Canal Zone League."

Yet 100% know 2 famous players that came out of Panama:

Rod Carew
Mariano Rivera

Well they really have nothing to do with this baseball, but they both played in Panama and this ball is from the grass roots of Panamanian Baseball.

The League was only around for 2 seasons, 1949-50 & 1950-51. It was a Winter League for some major league ballplayers and some Negro League players.

1947 Brooklyn Dodger and first Black pitcher in the Majors Dan Bankhead played in this Winter League. Tommy Lasorda also played there.

This is a Game Used Ball from the Championship Game of 1949-1950 season.

On the ball itself reads:

"Cristobal Mottas Canal Zone League Champions 1949-50"

Another panel reads:

"This ball caught by Bascelici (sp.) for last out in the final game for championship against Balboa"

Then looks to be signed by someone I can't make out and on another panel lists "Mgr Al Kuboski", another panel writing I can't make out.


Sold in the BST for fiddy bucks!