Another subtle hint in detecting a faked signature is to check the manufacturer of the ball and the president's signature on it. This may help distinquish deceased players who could not possibly have signed the ball.
Manufactures of baseballs:
- American League Balls---Reach (1901-1974), Spalding (1975-1976) and Rawlings, (1977 to present)
- National League Balls----Spalding(1876-1977) Rawlings (1978 to present)
- American Association-----Mahn (1882) Reach (1833-1891)
- Federal League-------------Victor
President signatures on baseball:
- AL-Byron B. Johnson(1901-1927) Ernest S. Barnard (1927-1931) William Harridge (1931-1959)
Joseph E. Cronin (1959-1973) Leland S. MacPhail Jr. (1974-1983) Robert W. Brown (1984-present)
- NL- John A. Hydler(1918-1934) Ford C. Frick(1934-1951) Warren C. Giles(1951-1969)
Charles S. Feeny (1970-1986 A. Bartlett Giamatti (1986-1989) William D. White (1989-present)
|