Baseball Autograph Book from 1941-1942

[Topnotchsy]

That's a really cool piece.

Did your grandfather provide info on how he got the signatures? Not asking for authenticity purposes, but for the story. It sounds like for during the 1942 season he went to Spring Training or hit up a lot of games or something?

[muggsy]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

That's a really cool piece.

Did your grandfather provide info on how he got the signatures? Not asking for authenticity purposes, but for the story. It sounds like for during the 1942 season he went to Spring Training or hit up a lot of games or something?

I never got to ask specifically, but I know he vacationed a friend in Clearwater down there (and eventually bought a condo there, but not until much later.) So it must have been one year he was down there, going to a bunch of games or workouts to collect the NL teams that were playing in that area. (Otherwise, too bad he didn't get a Ted Williams or DiMaggio.)

Eventually my uncle (as a young child) got a hold of it one day and drew those red lines, and ruined the condition of the pages/book. Grr! I imagine my grandfather was agonized and furious. The Cubs players got it worst, despite being a Cubs fan living in the Chicago area. Interesting is that there are very few Cubs. Maybe he kept those separately? Luckily some of the best in here, like the Stan Musial, is in very good condition.

I find it so cool—but maybe collectors that have access to all of these guys in better condition don't find it as intriguing.

[muggsy]

I thought this was nice too...
For the All-1942 team, including MVP, Top Pitcher (no Cy Young yet), top hitter, WS manager, I have I have #1, #2, or #1 and #2 at every spot, except 1B...

thebaseballgauge.com

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by muggsy

I never got to ask specifically, but I know he vacationed a friend in Clearwater down there (and eventually bought a condo there, but not until much later.) So it must have been one year he was down there, going to a bunch of games or workouts to collect the NL teams that were playing in that area. (Otherwise, too bad he didn't get a Ted Williams or DiMaggio.)

Eventually my uncle (as a young child) got a hold of it one day and drew those red lines, and ruined the condition of the pages/book. Grr! I imagine my grandfather was agonized and furious. The Cubs players got it worst, despite being a Cubs fan living in the Chicago area. Interesting is that there are very few Cubs. Maybe he kept those separately? Luckily some of the best in here, like the Stan Musial, is in very good condition.

I find it so cool—but maybe collectors that have access to all of these guys in better condition don't find it as intriguing.

For me (and this is just my perspective) there are 2 ways to look at this. One can view it as a collection of signatures (for which one can start considering the value of the individual signatures etc and work from there) or as a piece that captures a time and story in history.

For me a lot depends on how much story can be attached to it. The more specific and more detailed, the more (to me) it captures a time in history, and the story of an individual (as WWII created a shadow over the whole world) getting a chance to meet some of the great ballplayers of the day, getting their signatures, and experiencing baseball in a way that pretty much ceased to exist for a few years afterwards (and ultimately changed dramatically with all the changes that occurred after WWII, including but not limited to integration.)

[witster]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

For me (and this is just my perspective) there are 2 ways to look at this. One can view it as a collection of signatures (for which one can start considering the value of the individual signatures etc and work from there) or as a piece that captures a time and story in history.

For me a lot depends on how much story can be attached to it. The more specific and more detailed, the more (to me) it captures a time in history, and the story of an individual (as WWII created a shadow over the whole world) getting a chance to meet some of the great ballplayers of the day, getting their signatures, and experiencing baseball in a way that pretty much ceased to exist for a few years afterwards (and ultimately changed dramatically with all the changes that occurred after WWII, including but not limited to integration.)

Top, as a signed ball collector, I think you could look at it, as all of the above. It IS a moment in time. A specific moment. They were there to sign the ball, and it usually it happens the same day.

The tricky stories come out when you have an unexplained auto on a ball- a batboy, a bus driver, trainer, secretary, umpire, or a scout. It really makes researching, a time intensive effort.

Other head scratching autos come from some unexplained appearance from someone within baseball appearing at a game for any of unknown reasons. Its also possible baseballs were harder to come by and this was the signed ball kind of thing, so lets get it signed.

Kudos for the effort put forth. Witster

[Topnotchsy]

Originally Posted by witster

Top, as a signed ball collector, I think you could look at it, as all of the above. It IS a moment in time. A specific moment. They were there to sign the ball, and it usually it happens the same day.

The tricky stories come out when you have an unexplained auto on a ball- a batboy, a bus driver, trainer, secretary, umpire, or a scout. It really makes researching, a time intensive effort.

Other head scratching autos come from some unexplained appearance from someone within baseball appearing at a game for any of unknown reasons. Its also possible baseballs were harder to come by and this was the signed ball kind of thing, so lets get it signed.

Kudos for the effort put forth. Witster

I definitely hear you. I have a couple of balls from Stan Musial's personal collection that were signed by his WWII teammates, and it's been fascinating trying to research where the ball might have been signed and who the other guys were (a few played in the MLB, but most did not.)

[witster]

Originally Posted by Topnotchsy

I definitely hear you. I have a couple of balls from Stan Musial's personal collection that were signed by his WWII teammates, and it's been fascinating trying to research where the ball might have been signed and who the other guys were (a few played in the MLB, but most did not.)

Try this link

http://www.baseballinwartime.com/

It has extensive WWII baseball info. Witster

[muggsy]

I think you're both exactly right. That's also why I was surprised to find out it's worth more to people with individual names cut out. The history might not pass on in a sale but it's a great piece. From 1942, right before these guys left for military—10 HoF that were playing/managing at the time. To me, that is where all the value is. It's something for me to admire, but it'd have to be someone buying the history as much as the individual autographs within.

It was a lot of fun for me to identify all the names in the book. I feel accomplished IDing every signature in the book with help from boards, getting even a traveling secretary. The hardest to ID, I think we finally have, as an International League player, that showed up once for Philly ST, never played in MLB, and then went to war. Figuring it out had all the worth than the autograph, of course.

Looking at Baseball Gauge All-1942 Team
I have basically all of the best (NL) players of 1942. I suppose it's more "wow" to me than anyone else. And that it's immediately before the war.

I'm still admiring the March 1942 Stan Musial, before his rookie season, and that he tracked down the rookie and had him sign a clean page. Also before Stan changed his signature, probably for quicker signing. Again, something very intriguing to me, but collectors have seen it all and aren't interested in the story.

Also Hans Lobert who played since 1903, true deadball. He hit his first HR in 1907. He came back in 1942 to manage the Phillies, finished 42-109 and never managed again. Cool to me, probably worthless to any "buyer."