1948-49 Leaf # 57 Bob McCall (Cubs)

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Team signed baseballs were the thing well before single-signed balls exploded on the market.
What is a "Team Signed Baseball" ???
Simple answer: A ball with XXX signatures of a certain team for a certain year. What is difficult is the XXX. Baseball tons of roster moves make it nearly impossible to "Get Them All".

Generally, team signed baseballs from early 1900's had 10 to 15 signatures, the 1940's that jumped to 18 to 25. Joyce Sports Research Collection (Notre Dame) says "signatures must include only members of a specific team from a specific year, and there must be some approximation of completeness."

Not concrete but to me a "team ball" MUST have ALL the team's STARS (unless a rookie or in season trade) and in today's market at least 20, preferably more, and the manager.

Determining Age of Team Signed Balls
"Official" league balls have stamped signatures of current league presidents on the "sweet spot". Starting 1934/1935 balls were produced by Spalding (NL) and Reach (AL). Rawlings took over in 1977/78. Have a possible team roster at hand, ESPN & baseball-reference.com have great sites), decipher a few signatures then solve the puzzle.

Team Signed Baseballs Values
Pricing team signed baseballs is difficult due to subjectivity and factors involved suce as: Signatures placement, quality, strength, number of autographs, stars, age, team significance, and eye appeal considering fading, whiteness, scuffs, shellacking, staining, overall wear...

Team autographed baseballs on official league balls get higher values. They are "official", made better, preserve better and even help in dating especially with balls signed at "Reunion" baseball card shows which brought together great teams of the past.

Facsimile Autographed Balls
1960's/1970's machine-printed "autographed" team baseballs were sold at stadium gift shops for around $1.95. Easy to identify as all signatures were uniform in ink, color, size and look. "Facsimile" signatures are also often found on baseball cards.

Man was the 1948-1949 Leaf baseball set PACKED !!! The set was small in numbers and size with only (98) 2-3/8" by 2-7/8" cards. With only 98 cards, the set was "skip-numbered" with card numbers from 1 thru 168. Likely an attempt to force collectors to keep buying packs looking for their missing cards. (49) cards are considered "Short Prints" and there is one variation card #136: Full Sleeve/Short Sleeve (error)

Baseball, Football, Basketball & Hockey Memorabilia Cards

It's cool to have a card of your favorite player.
It's even cooler to have your favorite player's jersey or bat.
Well just think how cool it is to have a card of your favorite player embedded with a piece of his bat or jersey that he used in a real major league game !!!
That's the concept that Upper Deck dazzled the hobby with in 1996. Ever since the hobby has been in love with Game-Used memorabilia cards and they have become a staple of sportscard collecting. Originally they were very scarce inserts with less than 1 every few boxes. Now these insert cards are so popular that many products include one in every pack.

Be sure you visit our Game-Used card section with nearly 1,000 available at discount prices.

1948-49 Leaf # 57 Bob McCall (Cubs)

Team Autographed / Signed Baseballs

1948-1949 Leaf Baseball Cards
Checklist & Values

1985 Leaf Baseball

1948-49 Leaf # 57 Bob McCall (Cubs)

Team Autographed / Signed Baseballs

1948-1949 Leaf Baseball Cards Checklist & Values

1985 Leaf Baseball

1948-1949 Leaf Baseball Cards
Checklist & Values