Throughout baseball's history, teams have come and gone. Some have relocated, others have changed names, and several have done both, while others have faded away for good, and a couple even changed leagues. Find a pair of the relocated-rebranded franchises, with these (2) team-signed baseballs. In 1954, the lowly St. Louis Browns evolved into the much better Baltimore Orioles. In 1961, the Washington Senators popped up in an MLB expansion, to replace the original Senators, who moved west to that winter wonderland known as Minnesota. A quick 11 years later, while Ted Williams was serving as manager, this second Senators franchise became the Texas Rangers, and DC denizens had to go more than thirty years without a Major League squad to call their own. This first and last team ball pairing boasts the inclusion of key signers Ted Williams, Denny McLain, Frank Howard, Jimmie Dykes, Nellie Fox, and fatal stabbing victim Howie Fox, who was killed in 1955, at the age of 34.





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1954 Baltimore Orioles inaugural season team, with (24) autographs on an OAL/Harridge ball, that bears a couple of small gouges, and sporadic staining. Signature strength ranges ("5" to "7") with: sweet spot: Frank Skaff (coach), Jimmie Dykes (manager, d.1976); north panel: Billy Hunter, Howie Fox (d.1955), Joe Coleman, Jim Brideweser, Cal Abrams, Bobby Chakales, Cliff Melton (batting practice pitcher); south panel: Clint Courtney (d.1975), Frank Kellert (d.1976), Ryne Duren, Harry Brecheen (coach), Dick Kryhoski, Chuck Diering; east panel: "Chico" Garcia, Bob Kennedy, Jim Fridley, Don Larsen (clubhouse signature), Mike Blyzka, Tony Oliver (coach); west panel: Bobby Young, Bob Turley, Gil Coan.





1971 Washington Senators final season team, with (30) autographs on a shellacked OAL/Cronin ball, with one small gouge. Signature strength averages ("6-7"), with: sweet spot: Ted Williams (HOF, manager), Denny McLain; north panel: Tommy McCraw, Bill Gogolewski, Larry Bittner, Dick Bosman, Jim Shellenback, Del Unser, "Casey" Cox; south panel: Bernie Allen, Frank Fernandez, Sid Hudson (coach), Paul Lindblad, Joe Camacho (coach), Dick Billings; east panel: Paul Casanova, Gerry Janeski, undetermined, Elliot Maddox, Mike Thompson, Denny Riddleberger, Don Mincher, Toby Harrah; west panel: George Susce (coach), Nellie Fox (HOF, coach, d.1975), Frank Howard, Wayne Terwilliger (coach), Joe Grzenda, Don Wert, Tim Cullen.





Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Opening Bid $200.