Offered here is a 1914 Philadelphia Athletics team signed baseball with 17 autographs from the American League pennant winners. It would be the last of the six pennants the A's won in their dead-ball era dynasty that began in 1901 under the legendary skipper Connie Mack. Following a shocking sweep in the World Series at the hands of the Boston Braves, a bitter Mack, faced with pressure from the onslaught of World War I and the threat of losing players to a fledgling Federal League, decided to dismantle his roster, thus setting off a treacherous stretch of seven straight seasons finishing in last place. The A's would not win another AL pennant until 1929.
Included on this lightly shellacked OAL (Ban Johnson) baseball are Hall of Famers Frank "Home Run" Baker (6/10) and Herb Pennock (6.5/10), as well as Wally Schang, Stuffy McIinnis, Bob Shawkey, Bullet Joe Bush, Amos Strunk, Rube Bressler, Jack Coombs, Ira Thomas, Jack Lapp, Harry Davis, James "Wickey" McAvoy, Jimmy Walsh and three others. Signatures are done in blue ink and range from barely legible to Near Mint. Early 1900's team balls like this are super scarce and, all things considered, this one has stood the test of time. Includes full LOA from Beckett.