[ATP]

Thought it might be fun to work on this one as a group. One thing I always love doing when I get a team ball in is trying to figure out as closely as possible exactly when it was signed. This isn't always doable, but sometimes via rosters it can be pinned down to a very short period of time. With Mantle autographs, I love his early career examples and how they morphed from 1950 through about 1955 into what we are more used to seeing. Here is the background on this one. I bought it from an antique shop in Florida, I only was able to see a photo of the panel with Pete Runnels on it, however I knew the cert info and that it had a Mantle autograph on it. That was enough for me to take a shot at it. The ball itself is a Texas League example, with Alvin Gardner as the President (that would put the ball type between 1929 and early 1954, so not a ton of help there). I have not done any further research into the ball other than that today, so the rest of what you will see we can do together, or if no one is interestied in seeing if they recognize the other names (there are a few I have no idea who they are or I haven't had them before, and are likely minor leaguers from I assume the Texas League), I will check back in later today or tomorrow and ID the panels, and see if I can date it more closely. Hope others find this interesting. P.S. Without doing any specific research, my gut tells me that based on the Mantle signature alone and some small details with it, that the ball is from later 1952 or very early 1953 (perhaps spring training as it came out of Florida).

UPDATE: Many names figured out, still need the unidentified ones. Also need to try to tie these names together to come up with a period to date it.

Next Update: More of the minor league names identified, starting to see a major Oklahoma connection with the ball.

Morning Update: All Names Identified. Have found an event from 1952 where all of these players were present, and will post info later on it after I have had a chance to research it more.

FINAL UPDATE: Research completed and signing date determined. Info below in post #10.

Panel 1: Lou Kretlow (born, high school, and passed away in OK)
Tommy Tatum (played in the Texas League from 1950-54 for OKC)
Mickey Mantle (born, high school, and had family in OK)
Russell Burns (played for OKC 1952-1955)
Cal McLish (did play together with Ransom Jackson in 1951, did not make the team in 1952. Also born, high school, and passed away in OK)
Jerry Snyder

Panel 2: Allan Ross (or Allan Cross, not sure who he is)...This is actually AllEn Cross, played in the Texas league from 1950-1954 for OKC
Dale Mitchell (was with Cleveland during the era but coincidentally lived in OKC)
Thurman Tucker (Also played for OKC in Texas League but only in 1952)
Ray Murray (was with Cleveland in the Majors in 1951, traded that year to Philadelphia where he was for several more years)
Joe Frazier (played for OKC in Texas League in 1952 and 1953)

Panel 3: Completed: Pete Runnels
Bobby Morgan (born and high school in OK)
Earl York (lifetime Minor Leaguer in the 1940's and 1950's, played in the Texas League for Tulsa in 1952)
Ransom Jackson

Panel 4: Roy Jarvis (born, high school, passed away in OK, played in Texas League for Tulsa in 1952)
Casey Stengel
Cliff Mapes (passed away in OK)
Warren Spahn (had a home in OK, also passed away there)

Sweet Spot: Allie Reynolds (born, high school, and passed away in OK)

Reverse Sweet Spot: League Stamping