As a Dave Hoskins collector, I’m all the time looking out for uncommon gadgets so as to add to my assortment. The signed ball I picked up the opposite day most undoubtedly suits the invoice. Neither the ball’s floor nor the autograph itself are significantly clear, however they undoubtedly match the all-important “ok” grade that governs most of my amassing.
Plus, there have been a couple of extra signatures on the again: Bob Trice, Joe Black, and Al Smith.
Whereas not one of the 4 gamers are Corridor of Famers and even superstars, all had been trailblazers and barrier breakers who efficiently made the transition from the Negro Leagues to the most important leagues. Earlier than providing a guess at the way it was that every one 4 of those signatures ended up on the identical ball, listed below are some very transient bios of the gamers concerned.
Dave Hoskins was a member of the Homestead Grays Murderers Row from 1944 to 1946, profitable two pennants and a World Sequence with the membership.
He additionally built-in two minor leagues as a two-way star—the Central League in 1948 and the Texas League in 1952—earlier than becoming a member of the Cleveland Indians in 1953.
Bob Trice was one other Homestead Grey (1948-50) with two-way abilities. He was additionally the primary Black participant in Philadelphia Athletics historical past, integrating the workforce on September 13, 1953.
Joe Black started his profession with the Baltimore Elite Giants (1943-50), profitable two championships with the membership. Whereas greatest generally known as the 1952 Nationwide League Rookie of the Yr and the primary Black pitcher to win a World Sequence sport, Black was additionally the primary African American participant in Washington Senators historical past (although not the primary Black participant) and the namesake of the Arizona Fall League’s Most Precious Participant award.
Al Smith received his begin with the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1946, following a distinguished highschool athletic profession that together with ten touchdowns in a single sport. Three years later, Smith built-in the Jap League as a member of the Wilkes-Barre Indians. His twelve-year American League profession included three All-Star appearances, a third-place MVP end, and a document 4 runs scored from second base on sacrifice flies! (See this wonderful Matt Monagan article on MLB.com for much more on Smith.)
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Hardly a given again then, significantly with the Topps-Bowman wars in full impact, all 4 gamers may be discovered collectively in each the 1954 and 1955 Topps units.
Again to the ball, the apparent query to ask is whether or not the signatures all got here from a single sport or occasion. Complicating issues a bit is the truth that the 4 gamers by no means appeared in the identical main league, Negro League, or minor league sport, a minimum of so far as I can inform.
As luck would have it, the ball’s authentic proprietor remembered getting the ball signed at a minor league sport or exhibition sport round 1950 in Bakersfield, California. Moreover, he suspected the venue was Sam Lynn Park. Initially, this data proved a useless finish as I used to be unable to seek out all 4 gamers collectively in Bakersfield (or wherever!) inside a 3 12 months window of 1950.
What I did discover was that every one 4 gamers barnstormed with the Roy Campanella All-Stars in 1954 and 1955. A number of sources, together with this advert from October 1954, present documentation.
Moreover, the Campanella All-Stars performed a single sport in Bakersfield on October 23, 1954, shedding to a workforce of white main league gamers, 5-3. This sport, their solely loss on a tour that noticed them go 15-1, is in the mean time my greatest guess for the supply of the ball’s signatures. That mentioned, it’s solely attainable there’s a sport I missed in 1955 and even another 12 months. As all the time, your recommendations and corrections are all the time welcomed within the Feedback.
TRIVIA QUESTION: Solely two members of the Roy Campanella All-Stars listed on the commercial have playing cards in each the 1955 Topps and 1955 Bowman units. Who’re they?
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