Displayed is a Walter "Smokey" Alston signed and inscribed Official League baseball. Alston managed the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1954-76. Reportedly, Alston received his "Smokey" nickname because of his blazing fastball as a high school pitcher in rural Ohio. Alston spent 19 years in the minor leagues as a player, as an infielder and occasional pitcher, a player-manager, and a non-playing manager. He played in only one Major League game, for the St. Louis Cardinals as a first baseman in 1936, playing two innings in the field, and in his lone at bat, hitting a long fly that was almost a home run, but landed foul, and then striking out. As a minor league manager, he managed the Nashua Dodgers team, a Brooklyn farm club, in 1946. It was the first United States based integrated team in modern pro baseball (Jackie Robinson and Johnnie Wright were African Americans who played in '46 for Montreal, in Canada).Alston was a quiet man, but if challenged, he would offer to fight a player, an offer no player ever took. Alston won seven pennants and four World Series, including 1955, when the Dodgers won their only Brooklyn World Series.

The offered Spalding League baseball is stamped "Official League". Alston signed the ball on a side panel, using blue, ballpoint ink. He wrote, "Sincere Rest Wished "Smokey" Alston". The ball has a few very small spots and a few small stains. Alston wrote in neat script. Some parts of the signature and inscription have somewhat faded but are still clearly visible. The ball has slightly darkened, and it is in very good condition. The ball comes with a PSA LOA for the signature.