Did some research on my 1931 Japan All-Star Tour Baseball

I've been doing some research on the people who signed my 1931 Japan All-Star Tour baseball, and thought I'd share because I think it's a fascinating part of baseball history. I would love to find out who C.G. Davidson, the man they presented the ball to was, is it seems from the inscription that this was far more than just a fan getting a signed ball. Heritage Auctions referred to it as: "Though not as famous as its 1934 successor... perhaps the finest example we've encountered of this far rarer team sphere..."






Inscription: "United States All-Stars Touring Japan 1931 - Presented to C.G. Davidson"

Signers:

1. Lou Gehrig (1903-1941) – Yankee Legend. HOF 1939
2. Fred G. Lieb (1888-1980) – American Sportswriter and baseball historian. Close with Lou Gehrig and organized the 1931 tour with Herb Hunter. Elected to HOF (writer’s wing) in 1973
3. Herb Hunter (1895-1970) – Utility infielder from 1916-1921. Served in the Navy in both WWI and WWII. Orchestrated tours to Japan in 1920, 1922 and 1931
4. Tom Oliver (1903-1988) – Centerfielder and slap hitter for Red Sox 1930-1933. Holds modern record for most at-bats (1931) without a home run
5. Lefty Grove (1900-1975) – 300 game winner. HOF 1947
6. Willie Kamm (1900-1988) – Played from 1923-1935. Great defensive 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] baseman.
7. “Lefty” O’Doul (1897-1969) – Lifetime batting average of .349. Most successful manager in Pacific Coast League history. Spread baseball in Japan taking the reigns from Hunter after 1931. Inducted into Japanese Baseball HOF in 2002.
8. Rabbit Maranville (1891-1954) - HOF 1954
9. Billy Cunningham (1894-1953) - Outfielder, 1921-1924
10. Ralph Shinners (1895-1962) - Centerfielder 1922-1925
11. “Beans” Reardon (1897-1984) – National League Umpire from 1926-1949. Worked 5 World Series and 3 All-Star Games.
12. Larry French (1907-1987) – Pitcher, 1929-1941
13. Al Simmons (1902-1956) – HOF 1953
14. Frank Frisch (1898-1973) – HOF 1947
15. Mickey Cochrane (1903-1962) - HOF 1947
16. George L. Kelly (1895-1984) – HOF 1973 (by Veteran’s Committee)
17. Harold “Muddy” Ruel (1896-1963) – Catcher from 1915-1934

Totals:
7 HOF players, 1 HOF writer. 3 people who were heavily involved in bringing baseball to Japan (1 inducted into the Japanese HOF)

Simply amazing

Only missing Moe Berg, the man who went on that tour and was starting his training as a spy.

There is a great book about this tour: Banzai Babe Ruth

Therion said:

Only missing Moe Berg, the man who went on that tour and was starting his training as a spy.

There is a great book about this tour: Banzai Babe Ruth

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Moe was on the 1934 trip along with Ruth and others. Huge Berg fan but thanks to a Ruth that ball is still a bit out of my budget...

Brewer Andy said:

Simply amazing

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Brewer Andy, thanks. It's probably the coolest thing I've ever owned.

Tried doing some research for you. The most famous C.G. Davidson I could find from that period was landscape painter Charles Grant Davidson (1865-1945) who signed his works C.G. Davidson. There was also a Charles Girard Davidson who at the time had just finished law school, who would later become Assistant Secretary of the Interior under President Harry S. Truman. Didn't find any direct links to the Tour of Japan for either though. I believe C.G. Davidson the painter was in NY at the time.

Love these photos from the tour: http://www.vintageball.com/1931Tour.html

Love that Maranville is on your ball!

gracecollector said:

Tried doing some research for you. The most famous C.G. Davidson I could find from that period was landscape painter Charles Grant Davidson (1865-1945) who signed his works C.G. Davidson. There was also a Charles Girard Davidson who at the time had just finished law school, who would later become Assistant Secretary of the Interior under President Harry S. Truman. Didn't find any direct links to the Tour of Japan for either though. I believe C.G. Davidson the painter was in NY at the time.

Love these photos from the tour: http://www.vintageball.com/1931Tour.html

Love that Maranville is on your ball!

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Thanks for the assistance! For some reason when I first found Charles Grant Davidson for some reason I thought he had already died by 1931, which is clearly a mistake. I think that's probably the best road to work down at the moment, so I'm going to have to see if there is any sort of connection he might have had with any of the players, particularly the organizers.

I echo your sentiments on Maranville. The ball is the one piece in my collection I find myself going back and looking at repeatedly, there's so much cool history and so many great players from close to a century ago.

Wanted to bump this to share...