[h2oya311]

Based on the other subjects sold by the seller, most with a similar style including the black background behind the player and several with the arms crossed (same photo shoot?), I would say that this Kell photo is also from 1945. Joe Cicero only played with the A's in 1945. Lou Knerr only played from 1945-46. Also, I see that Cicero has the patch on his sleeve, so this patriotic patch must have stayed on the uniform throughout the war and into 1945.

The other players with the same "style" sold by the eBay seller include:

Name (patch on sleeve)? = years with team
Luther Knerr = 1945-46
Dick Siebert (patch seen) = 1938-45
Joe Burns (patch seen) = 1944-45
George Kell (patch seen) = 1943-46
Bob Wilkins = 1944-45
Joe Cicero (patch seen) = 1945
Charlie Metro (patch seen) = 1944-45
Bob Estalella = 1943-45, 1949
Russ Christopher (patch seen) = 1942-47
Al Simmons = 1940-41, 1944 (perhaps coached in 1945?)

So cool that you found a different Kell in the 1945 set. I'll have to keep my eye out for one. The portrait is certainly a much nicer looking photo than the fielding photo (which, as it seems, may have actually been produced in a different year given the significant style differences). I acquired a huge collection of these a few years back and now want to go through them to see if I can pinpoint the dates better, unless, of course, someone on the board already has the answers.