Lot # 752: 1928 Central League Champions Fort Wayne Chiefs Team-Signed Baseball with (20) Signatures

Champions of a long defunct minor league surface, with the offering of this 1928 Fort Wayne Chiefs team-signed baseball. This squad of long, long ago was the cream of the crop in 1928 for the Central League, a mid-western association that went out of business after the 1951 season. A Spalding Official League Special model, this antique baseball is decorated with (20) signatures from members of the 1928 Central League champion Chiefs.

Most of these period signatures retain significant integrity to enable positive identification. A few signatures are compromised by abrasions, and others are tough to track down. The majority are recognized ballplayers, including several who enjoyed some time in the Majors. There are also few players with little to no information available about their careers, and it appears at least one of the signers played for a different team in 1928. Written on the sweet spot is the legend "Champions Central League 1928".

This baseball is offered without authentication, though the signatures are presumed genuine.

Featured signers are:

North panel: H.C. Wyneken, Chas. (Punch) Knoll (manager, d.1960), "Chief" Hogsett (1928 Evansville Hubs player), Syl Simons (d.1973), Frank ?, Fred Myers (d.2000), "Tex" Womack (d.1958), Ray Pipkin (d.1969);

South panel: Bill Whaley (d.1943), J.L. Walsh (d.1978), W. Nadolson (d.1992), E. Lee, B.W. Kunes (Smith);

East panel: "Grunt" Lucas, Cliff Gray (d.1986), Bennie ?;

West panel: two undetermined, Art Hoffman, Don Smith.