Look back to the WWII era, with this 1943 New York Giants team-signed baseball. With the MLB ranks depleted due to military service, the Giants still had a couple of big name players on hand, in aging superstars Mel Ott and Carl Hubbell, who have provided two of the bolder autographs on this toned and shellacked ball. In all, this Spalding Official Pro League model ball hosts (24) steel-tip fountain pen signatures, ranging ("6" to "8") in strength, which were period signed during the Giants 1943 Spring Training at Lakewood, NJ.



Featured signers are:



Sweet spot: Gus Mancuso (d.1984), Vic Bradford;



North panel: "Bubber" Jonnard (coach, d.1977), Bobby Coombs, Connie Ryan, "Rube" Fischer, Tom Sunkel, Howland Moss (d.1989), Cliff Melton (d.1986);



South panel: Johnnie Wittig, Hugh Poland (d.1984), Dick Bartell, Ken Trinkle (d.1976), Van Mungo (d.1985), Harry Feldman (d.1962);



East panel: Ray Berres, Mel Ott (HOF, player-manager, d.1958), "Babe" Barna (d.1972), Bill Lohrman, Sid Gordon (d.1975);



West panel: Mickey Witek, Bill Voiselle, Carl Hubbell (HOF, d.1988), Billy Jurges.



Full LOA from James Spence/JSA. Opening Bid $300.