1903 Pottsville PA Receipts - Signature Recognition

[prewarsports]

Alfred Lawson (Reading) was a major league player before he became a manager.

[bgar3]

My initial thought was also that it might be Alfred Lawson, the former player etc, but his middle name began with a W, not a J, as it appears to be in a receipt below. It certainly could be the ballplayer Lawson, but I am not sure. Lawson was a very interesting person, player, manager, aviator, sailor, baseball game designer, and it was his famous sign on the scoreboard at Fenway Park during the 1912 World Series. If it is that Lawson, it might explain the "nuff ced" near his name, as he was a friend of nuff ced Mcgreevey. I hope it is the ballplayer, there must be some autographs around to compare.

[prewarsports]

Here is a vintage example I have. I didn't bother to check the signatures, just mentioned that Lawson was a former major leaguer.

I have 3-4 other examples of his signature as well signed later in life.

Rhys

[cincicards]

Added a couple more

scan4.jpg

[cincicards]

Could the "A.J Lawson" be his brother Alexander Lawson?

"This article presents a side to Lawson seldom evidenced elsewhere. For one thing, it shows he was still (as of 1903) close to his family. His brother Alexander came to Reading to help manage Al's team;"

http://morefiends.typepad.com/more_fiends/baseball/

[bgar3]

That would explain it. I think the Al W Lawson letter on Reading letterhead comes close to clinching it.

[cincicards]

To me it appears that one of the receipts is signed by Alfred and the other possibly by Alexander.