# Pittsburgh Pirates fans - help me ID these signatures **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 31, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pittsburgh-pirates-fans-help-me-id-these-signatures/534437 "2010-03-31T06:58:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pittsburgh-pirates-fans-help-me-id-these-signatures/534437/1 "2010-03-31T06:58:28Z")
Many years ago my aunt knew a sportswriter, who got a ball passed around the Pirate clubhouse. We think this was about 1961 because of one of the players who was there. Roberto Clemente is clearly on the ball. Can you tell me who else is on this ball? We know a lot of them, but I won’t prejudice you by telling you what we think they are. We’d like to know so that we can put in full details if we sell it. Thanks. > **[Photo and Video Storage | Photobucket](https://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k110/flavord/)** > > Store your photos and videos online with Photobucket's secure storage. Available on iOS, Android and desktop. Securely backup your memories and sign up today! ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pittsburgh-pirates-fans-help-me-id-these-signatures/534437/2 "2010-03-31T12:46:56Z")
> [@Cardinal](#): > > Many years ago my aunt knew a sportswriter, who got a ball passed around the Pirate clubhouse. We think this was about 1961 because of one of the players who was there. Roberto Clemente is clearly on the ball. > > Can you tell me who else is on this ball? We know a lot of them, but I won’t prejudice you by telling you what we think they are. We’d like to know so that we can put in full details if we sell it. Thanks. > > [Photo Storage](http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k110/flavord/) In #1, that’s Hal Smith in light blue, and Smoky Burgess underneath. # 2 is Bob Friend and Harvey Haddix. Are these really hard for you to decipher? ---
**Author:** ![pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudotriton_ruber_ruber)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pittsburgh-pirates-fans-help-me-id-these-signatures/534437/3 "2010-03-31T12:55:37Z")
# 4 is Danny Murtaugh, with Dick Groat underneath ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pittsburgh-pirates-fans-help-me-id-these-signatures/534437/4 "2010-03-31T13:09:00Z")
This ball must be from 1961, as Bobby Shantz’s autograph is clearly on Image 3. Shantz did not play for the Pirates in 1960, but did in 1961, and we know from the other names that it had to be one of those two years. That’s somewhat unfortunate as a 1960 ball would, for obvious reasons, be more valuable. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pittsburgh-pirates-fans-help-me-id-these-signatures/534437/5 "2010-03-31T13:12:22Z")
Joe Christopher Tom Sturdivant Hal Smith Smokey Burgess Bob Friend Harvey Haddix Bobby Shantz Danny Murtaugh Dick Groat Bill Mazeroski Bill Virdon Roberto Clemente (picture 5) I could probably get more, but they are faded or flashed out. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pittsburgh-pirates-fans-help-me-id-these-signatures/534437/6 "2010-03-31T13:19:47Z")
If it’s legit, an [estimated value](http://keymancollectibles.com/teamsigned/pirates.htm) is somewhere between $550-850 depending on condition. Keep in mind that it’s only an estimate, it’s only really worth what someone will pay for it if you were to try to sell it. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pittsburgh-pirates-fans-help-me-id-these-signatures/534437/7 "2010-03-31T13:55:40Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to The Game Room.