1947 Birmingham Barons Team Signed Baseball with HOFer player/manager Bill Dickey

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Running the club for 7 World Series title seasons behind the plate for the Yankees, Dickey replaced legendary HOFer manager Joe McCarthy in May of 1946 and managed through the rest of the season. Dickey, however, only managed one other club professionally...Southern Association's Little Rock Travelers in 1947, making this a pretty unique signed item. No real notables here minus Dickey's signature, the ball was mostly signed in black fountain pen...noted by the bold, uneven strokes. Dickey and two others signed in blue.

Of note, Bill Dickey's last professional at-bats occurred this season as "player/manager." Of course, calling him a "player/manager" is probably selling short actual player/managers, because Dickey had a mere 12 at-bats with the club but he made those 4 hits count. Two doubles and a home run.

 

[exigussrex]

I can't decide what I like more - the ball or the presentation. Very nice photographs and a great item. Thanks for sharing.

 

[nyc3]

Love it!

 

[A_Pharis]

Wow! Dickey is a Louisiana boy, and I have a signed newspaper clipping. Super jealous!

 

[Krom]

The autographs are quite bold for the age. Sweet fountain pen action.

 

[MojoDan]

Congrats Mike!

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Thanks for the comments.

Obviously having Dickey on the sweet spot would have been ideal...but the way the ink is perserved and the nice age and toning on the ball is cool.

 

[Weimer]

That's awesome. Nice piece of history.