Signed Vintage MLB 1950’s Baseball with over a dozen signatures - what is it?

[MnBoy2022]

I have a vintage National league Spalding baseball from I believe the 1950’s with over a dozen signatures on it. This ball was my grandfather’s until,he passed about 24 years ago. He occupied a nationally known, well respected role in his day and this ball was likely presented to him as a gift from someone in Major League Baseball back in that day. It looks like it may have been a very lightly used game ball and maybe a team signature set, or a special event ball, etc.

Many (10-12) of the signatures are difficult to decipher because of the handwriting, but several others have been identified including:

Andy Pafko
Mickey Owen
Billy Bruton
Sid Hudson
Lou Perini
Dr. Charles Lack

Can anyone help in determining the rest of the signatures and explain what this ball represents and how it came to be signed with these names?

Thank you in advance for any help provided.

[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?

[CrownSports]

Milwaukee and Boston played March 14th 1954. Aaron's first spring training start. Possibly from that game as it would explain the 2 other sigs.

[BobC]

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?

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.

[BobC]

Didn't come across any info on who (and when) the Braves played in Spring training that year, and was still typing when Crownsports posted that they did play the Red Sox on March 14, 1954. And if correct, Aaron was in fact at and in that game. Bobby Thompson, the Braves starting left fielder, had broken his ankle the day before during a game on 3/13/54, while sliding into second base. Aaron ended up starting and playing for the first time ever for the major league club in the game the next day, on March 14, 1954.

If it turns out that is the same game this signed ball ended up coming from, then it is a real damn shame no one got Aaron's signature on this ball.

And additionally, in looking back at the ball, also noted Jimmy Piersall had signed it. He was playing for the Red Sox in '54 as well. The OP can probably identify any other signatures on that ball by looking at the Braves and Red Sox rosters from 1954.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Originally Posted by BobC

However, also saw what looks a signature of George Kell, not the HOFer, but a later namesake that played in the majors.

That's actually the HOFer's autograph on the ball. I know of no other George Kell who played in the Majors.

It's interesting to note that both Evers and Kell started out 1954 with the Red Sox before being traded to other teams.

I haven't really examined this ball to offer any further insight. Sorry.

ETA: The pics are really small, but I saw Sid Hudson staring me down as I scrolled past just now. Another '54 BoSox member. And above him...again, the photo is minuscule, but the formation of the last name "Brown" is strongly reminiscent of Hal "Skinny" Brown, also with Boston that season. It has to be him, but those photos are so tiny.

[MnBoy2022]

Wow, my thanks to all of the contributors to this treasure trove of knowledge and information. My apologies for the poor pics, I will take more and try to do better.
I’ll post those tomorrow.

[etsmith]

Looks like it has Danny O'Connell and Karl Olson as well.