[Runscott]

My 2 cents: it definitely has strong characteristics of an early Williams. I would guess either it's real or the entire ball is bad, but not clubhouse. It looks too much like an authentic early Williams to be a clubhouse. If it's the darkest, clearest signature on the ball, I would have doubts.

Afterthought: guys like Williams, Mays, Mantles, DiMaggio signed so much stuff after their playing days that I think it's especially cool to go after their earliest signatures. Sometimes you have to settle on a less-desirable example to start, especially on signed baseballs. If it's aesthetically pleasing to you, I don't see any reason not to enjoy it. If it's not quite right for your collection, it can be a good placeholder for months or years.