Rare Circa 1950 Official Negro American League Baseball

Sold For:

$1,320

Year:

1950

Auction:

2015 Fall

Lot #:

1027

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Exceedingly rare Wilson Official Negro American League baseball dating from circa 1950. The ball label reads "Negro American League" and the facsimile signature of the league president, "J. B. Martin," appears on a side panel. The Negro American League was formed in 1937 as a counterpart to the older Negro National League and it lasted for twenty-five years. J. B. Martin was president of the league from 1940 through 1961, its final year of existence. It is interesting that Spalding Bros., which had a monopoly on the official balls for both the American (under its Reach brand name) and National Leagues, failed to secure the rights for the Negro leagues as well. Instead, it was Wilson that won the contract and the company supplied the balls for both the Negro National and American leagues for most of each organization's existence. This is only the second Negro American League ball we have ever offered. The first, which was still in its original, unopened box, appeared as Lot 1289 in our Spring 2014 auction, where it sold for $5,629. The ball displays moderate surface wear, including two small areas of discoloration. In Very Good to Excellent condition overall.


  Reserve $300. Estimate (open).