1950 Boston Braves Team-Signed Ball – Jethroe, HoFer Southworth – with a PSA/DNA LoA.
Lot 58. 1950 Boston Braves Team-Signed Ball – Jethroe, HoFer Southworth – with a PSA/DNA LoA. This Official Spalding National League Baseball and its 19 Braves autographs are accompanied by a Sept. 22, 2022 Letter of Authenticity from PSADNA. The sweet spot has the autographs of manager Billy Southworth and infielder Sibby Sisti; the north panel, Bob Keely (coach), Del Crandall, Bucky Walters (coach), Bob Elliot and John Sain; the south, Sid Gordon, Gene Mauch, Willard Marshall, Jimmy Brown (coach), Normie Roy and Sam Jethroe; the east, Paul Burns, Bob Hall and Bob Chipman; and the west, Luis Olmo, Ernie Johnson and Pete Reiser. The ball also has clubhouse signatures of John Antonelli, Johnny Cooney and Warren Spahn, all on the west panel, and Bobby Hogue, on the north. The ball is a light cream color with darker, uneven toning on the north panel. Ex 5. The autographs are primarily nm-m 8, with some nm 7 and mint 9. Southworth batted .297 through 13 seasons as an outfielder, but he was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee after he had success as a manager in 1929 and 1940-51. He led the St. Louis Cardinals to three NL pennants and two World Championships. With the Cardinals, he compiled a .642 winning percentage, the second best in the team’s history. He also won a pennant with the Boston Braves. In the 1950 season represented here, Jethroe was the Braves’ first black player and the NL Rookie of the Year. He starred in the Negro Leagues before joining Boston at the age of 32. Winning Bid $110.
