This Rawlings ball collects some of the greatest names in Negro League history, including Hall of Famers Satchel Paige, Buck Leonard and Effa Manley, co-owner of the Newark Eagles and the first woman to be enshrined in Cooperstown. As Manley passed away in 1981 and Rawlings began producing OAL Lee MacPhail balls in 1977, we can narrow the date of her autograph to that time period. The other Negro League luminaries on the ball include Ted Page and Jimmie Crutchfield (SS), teammates with Satchel Paige (8/10 black ballpoint, west panel) on the Pittsburgh Crawfords, the greatest team ever assembled outside the Major Leagues.
The great third baseman and manager Dave Malarcher has signed along with catcher Quincy Trouppe. Straddling the Negro League and Major Leagues are Newark Eagle and Brooklyn Dodgers great Don Newcombe (SS) and Sam Hairston, who eventually made it to the Majors with the White Sox in 1951. A “J.B. Brown” has signed the ball, which we attribute to James Brown, a pitcher for the Newark Eagles. The extremely rare and coveted autograph of Effa Manley in bold 8/10 black marker appears below Brown. The final name on the ball is Paul Winfield. Since no one by that name played in the Negro Leagues, it is most likely the signature actor Paul Winfield, who in 1989 narrated the acclaimed documentary Only the Ball Was White about the Negro Leagues.
The ball shows some spotting toning from age. The 11 signatures are done in bold marker or strong ballpoint pen (two blue, the rest black), averaging 7/10 in our book. A very eclectic multi-signed ball through which the Black History of baseball before Jackie Robinson could be told. Includes full LOAs from JSA and PSA/DNA.