Houston Colt .45 Autograph?

[MooseDog]

It almost looks like it could be a manufacturing defect...have you checked against the roster as to who is missing? Looks like someone wrote Russ Kemmerer below the mystery sig.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Ken Johnson

[Case12]

I think you may be right about someone writing Russ Kemmer except Russ' autograph is already on another side of the ball. Guess that is the mystery.

Yes, I have gone through the roster. Actually have most all of the players autographs on other things. None look like this.

Ken Johnson is not elsewhere on the ball, but his signature is so different, and not this long.

As for a misprint. What would do that? (BTW, how were these fax balls printed in early 60's?). Did someone put the wrong rubber stamp? Ha, ha.

This really has me stumped...

[MooseDog]

I doubt that all of those souvenir balls were actually rubber stamped. More likely the autographs were affixed on the two individual panels by some sort of printing process. then stitched together. You notice on some of these the autograph overlaps the seam but there is no ink on the seam. Whatever the process was could have created the issue.

I kinda agree with BillyCox that it might be Ken Johnson, mangled.

Suppose if you could find another 1962 souvenir ball you'd have your answer.

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

100% Ken Johnson. Believe it or don't believe it, that's who it is.

[bobw]

From an auction from 2018, a clearer image of a different ball

[Case12]

I believe it. I had to dig a lot to find another like it. Ken W. Johnson. Must be early signature from his Phillies days in the 50's. Thank you very much! Amazing mystery solved!