Joe Medwick signed ball from 1944?

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Runscott

I have passed on a few items like that over the years. About 10 years ago I was collecting Nap Rucker and Ed Reulbach items when a dream piece came up for auction: a ball used in a Nap Rucker no-hitter. I should have been thrilled, but then I started thinking of the possible history of that ball, and I avoided it.

I won't go into all the scenarios, as they have been discussed here over and over. If you feel strongly that it is legit, then I congratulate you on your acquisition.

Scott,
I understand your sentiment, but a possible Joe Medwick foul ball is a far cry from a game used ball from Nap Ruckers no-hitter game in terms of importance and certainly value.

You know that I collect items related to no-hitters. Just curious, why the specific interest in Nap Rucker? Good choice, BTW...

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by Scott Garner

Scott,
I understand your sentiment, but a possible Joe Medwick foul ball is a far cry from a game used ball from Nap Ruckers no-hitter game in terms of importance and certainly value.

You know that I collect items related to no-hitters. Just curious, why the specific interest in Nap Rucker? Good choice, BTW...

True Scott, but my hesitation to purchase anything like this has nothing to do with malicious intent on the part of the seller. It's just that accidents occur as the years go by. Less chance of it if the writing is obviously the same age as the event, but there can still be confusion on the part of the original owner that leads to mistakes. For example, I was with a friend of mine at a game, and between us we caught 4-5 batting practice balls. I know who hit the one I caught (Darryl Porter), but we put them in a common area, and when my buddy gave me the ball, I wasn't absolutely sure he gave me the right one. Rucker's no-hitter ball could have gotten mixed up with some others, or he might have set it somewhere and it rolled off the table and ended up picked up by his wife and put in the wrong spot. Who knows?

I always had a sentimental side for players like Rucker and Reulbach who were viewed as 'great' by their contemporaries, but who were ignored by the more knowledgeable sportswriters and fans who succeeded them. Reulbach was basically run out of the majors because of the Federal League, so he missed the 10-year prerequisite to get in the HOF. Rucker pitched for some sorry-assed Dodgers teams and was the ace of the staff, thus he was matched up whenever possible against the best that the other teams had. Plus, he was from Alpharetta, Georgia, where I used to live. He was a great guy and hard not to like. I still collect his stuff, but I don't have too much.

[JSK23]

I don't even know what to do with this. I have no sentimental value for it. Does it have any kind of monetary value? My uncle told me to find out what I could about it and try to move it.

Do I just throw it up on ebay and see if it gets bid on? Is there any way the age can at least be verified or would that not be worth the hassle?

[mr2686]

Well, the date is correct for when and where those two teams played, and of course Medwick did play in that game (got one hit).

[thecatspajamas]

Can any of the original stampings on the ball be made out at all?

[JSK23]

I completely overlooked this earlier, but there is some sort of stamping on it. Best picture I could get of it: http://i.imgur.com/TXeuJ8x.jpg

Ive just linked the highest res of it, so you can have the best look possible. The stamp does look pretty close to this: http://keymancollectibles.com/balls/images/wpe13.jpg.
There is a mark under the "Jul" that looks like a bat/ground caused scuff.

[thecatspajamas]

Looks like a 1941-46 ONL Frick ball. Can't see anything of the presidential stamping to be able to narrow it further, but looks right for the date penned on it both in terms of date range and league.

(Thanks to Brandon for his ball guide making me look like an expert )