Description:

An exceptional and historically significant multi-signed Rawlings Negro League commemorative baseball bearing six authentic autographs from some of the most celebrated players in Negro League baseball history, including three Hall of Famers.

This remarkable artifact captures a generation of legendary players whose contributions shaped the foundation of professional baseball long before integration transformed the major leagues. Signed during an organized autograph event in 1992, the baseball features a distinguished roster of Negro League icons whose names represent some of the most important chapters in 20th-century baseball history.

Autographs present on the baseball include:
Monte Irvin - Baseball Hall of Fame (1973), Newark Eagles star and later New York Giants All-Star, one of the greatest players to transition from the Negro Leagues to Major League Baseball.
Ray Dandridge - Baseball Hall of Fame (1987), widely regarded as one of the greatest defensive third basemen in Negro League history, star of the Newark Eagles.
Walter “Buck” Leonard - Baseball Hall of Fame (1972), legendary first baseman of the Homestead Grays and one of the most feared hitters in Negro League history.
Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe - one of the most colorful and talented figures in Negro League baseball, known for catching one game of a doubleheader and pitching the other.
Lester “Gates” Lockett - accomplished Negro League pitcher and longtime Chicago American Giants standout.
Bill Wright - Negro League outfielder and 1947 Pacific Coast League MVP with the Los Angeles Angels.

The signatures appear across multiple panels of the baseball and display strong visual contrast against the clean white leather. Monte Irvin and Bill Wright signatures are particularly bold in marker, while the remaining signatures appear in blue ballpoint pen typical of organized signing events of the era.

The ball itself is a Rawlings Negro League commemorative baseball, a format frequently used during the late 1980s and early 1990s for autograph signings involving surviving Negro League legends.

Accompanying the baseball are six individual Certificates of Authenticity issued by Super Star Marketing Inc., New York, dated 1992, each corresponding to one of the signed players and guaranteeing the authenticity of the hand-signed autographs.

The baseball remains in very well preserved collector condition. The leather surface is clean and bright with strong red stitching and crisp factory stamping. All six autographs remain legible, with the marker signatures displaying excellent boldness and the ballpoint signatures showing natural but minor age-related lightness. No significant toning, staining, or structural damage is visible. Overall presentation remains highly attractive for display.

Multi-signed baseballs featuring multiple Negro League legends have become increasingly sought after as surviving players from that historic era have passed away. Examples that combine multiple Hall of Famers together with additional Negro League stars are particularly desirable among advanced baseball memorabilia collectors.

The presence of three Hall of Fame players - Monte Irvin, Ray Dandridge, and Buck Leonard – significantly enhances the historical importance and collectability of this piece, while the inclusion of Ted “Double Duty” Radcliffe and other Negro League veterans further strengthens its authenticity as a true representation of the era.

For collectors of Negro League memorabilia, Hall of Fame autographs, or historically important baseball artifacts, this signed baseball represents a compelling and visually appealing piece that honors some of the greatest players in African American baseball history.

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April 4, 2026 11:00 AM EDT
Stouffville, ON, CA

Oakwood Auctions

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $5
$100 $299 $10
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 $49,999 $500
$50,000 $99,999 $1,000
$100,000 $999,999 $5,000
$1,000,000 + $10,000