1953/54 Cubs Auto Team Ball

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

That's not quite accurate, either, as there actually were two keys on that club. Joe Page was on that team, as was the first black Pirate, Curt Roberts, who is very tough due to his early death in 1969. Gordon was added likely because the writer wasn't overly familiar with Roberts and the ball may not have contained either him or Page. Granted, Sid passed away in the mid-1970's, but his signature is far from tough. He played for a long while and was a terrific autograph signer.

JSA lists all "key" and HOF signatures as part of a full LOA for team/multi-signed items. I remember many occasions when I was authenticating a 1980's team ball and being forced to be very creative in determining who was a key. Jim Leyritz! Yeah! He's a key! Sometimes we would just have to list the most familiar names on the ball, even though it might be Matt Nokes.

[Theoldprofessor]

Originally Posted by JBirkholm

That's not quite accurate, either, as there actually were two keys on that club. Joe Page was on that team, as was the first black Pirate, Curt Roberts, who is very tough due to his early death in 1969. Gordon was added likely because the writer wasn't overly familiar with Roberts and the ball may not have contained either him or Page. Granted, Sid passed away in the mid-1970's, but his signature is far from tough. He played for a long while and was a terrific autograph signer.

JSA lists all "key" and HOF signatures as part of a full LOA for team/multi-signed items. I remember many occasions when I was authenticating a 1980's team ball and being forced to be very creative in determining who was a key. Jim Leyritz! Yeah! He's a key! Sometimes we would just have to list the most familiar names on the ball, even though it might be Matt Nokes.

Great point. Actually, the Bucs also carried, for one game (in which he played two innings) Sam Jethroe, ROY in 1950, who'd be he real key, if he'd been around long enough to sign anything. Speaking of which, the honor of being first to field a starting team of nine black players also belongs to Pittsburgh, in 1971:

Rennie Stennett, 2B
Gene Clines, CF
Roberto Clemente, RF
Willie Stargell, LF
Manny Sanguillen, C
Dave Cash, 3B
Al Oliver, 1B
Jackie Hernandez, SS
Dock Ellis, P

Two genuine HOFers and another, Oliver, who deserves greater consideration than he ever got.

[becollie]

Much appreciated