Joe Medwick signed ball from 1944?

JSK23 · #1 08-29-2013, 10:29 PM

I don't even know what to do with this. I have no sentimental value for it. Does it have any kind of monetary value? My uncle told me to find out what I could about it and try to move it.

Do I just throw it up on ebay and see if it gets bid on? Is there any way the age can at least be verified or would that not be worth the hassle?

mr2686 · #2 08-29-2013, 10:58 PM

Well, the date is correct for when and where those two teams played, and of course Medwick did play in that game (got one hit).

thecatspajamas · #3 08-29-2013, 11:27 PM

Can any of the original stampings on the ball be made out at all?

JSK23 · #4 08-29-2013, 11:52 PM

I completely overlooked this earlier, but there is some sort of stamping on it. Best picture I could get of it: http://i.imgur.com/TXeuJ8x.jpg

Ive just linked the highest res of it, so you can have the best look possible. The stamp does look pretty close to this: http://keymancollectibles.com/balls/images/wpe13.jpg.
There is a mark under the "Jul" that looks like a bat/ground caused scuff.

thecatspajamas · #5 08-30-2013, 12:18 AM

Looks like a 1941-46 ONL Frick ball. Can't see anything of the presidential stamping to be able to narrow it further, but looks right for the date penned on it both in terms of date range and league.

(Thanks to Brandon for his ball guide making me look like an expert

)

Scott Garner · #6 08-30-2013, 04:44 AM

I always had a sentimental side for players like Rucker and Reulbach who were viewed as 'great' by their contemporaries, but who were ignored by the more knowledgeable sportswriters and fans who succeeded them. Reulbach was basically run out of the majors because of the Federal League, so he missed the 10-year prerequisite to get in the HOF. Rucker pitched for some sorry-assed Dodgers teams and was the ace of the staff, thus he was matched up whenever possible against the best that the other teams had. Plus, he was from Alpharetta, Georgia, where I used to live. He was a great guy and hard not to like. I still collect his stuff, but I don't have too much.
__________________
SC0TT F0RREST

Scott,
I can't fault your reasoning for wanting to collect these two players.

BTW, I believe that I remember seeing the Nap Rucker no-hit ball that you described in your earlier post. Keep in mind that back in Rucker's era baseballs were VERY pricey, relatively speaking and it was expected (demanded) by the home team that a foul ball be returned to the field because that was THE game ball. foul balls were not considered fair game as souvenirs until perhaps the 1930's. Some teams even had security guards or ushers in the stands that would retrieve foul balls from the fans to bring the ball back into play. When I was doing the research on my game used HB "Dutch" Leonard no-hit ball from 1916 I came across some of the facts that I just mentioned that I had never previously known...

My point is that the Nap Rucker no-hit ball that you referenced is probably one of one or two known to exist. What a great collectible, IMHO...
That being said, you have to feel comfortable with an items provenance. With collectibles this old, a certain "leap of faith" is required because absolute provenance isn't always available.

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