To commemorate the 1924 Boston Red Sox season is this beautiful team-signed OAL (Johnson) ball (EX-MT) with 24 signatures including Jack Quinn, Ike Boone, Danny Clark, Dudley Lee, Howard Ehmke, John Collins, Buck Winters, Steve O'Neill, Curt Fullerton, Charley Jamerson, Bill Piercy, Jack Ryan, Leo K. Murray, Harry Workman, Buster Ross, Ira Flagstead and more. This specimen has to be one of the nicest 1920s Red Sox balls in existence. Team balls from this era are tough and in this condition, almost impossible to find. Signatures average 7.5/10, comes with original Reach partial box.

Ed Rommel had the unusual distinction of being a top-flight Major League pitcher, for the Philadelphia A’s (1920-1932), and then becoming a successful American League umpire (1938-1959). What a baseball life! What a great situation for him as a collector! Rommel, regarded as the father of the modern knuckleball, won 171 games, twice led the American League in wins, and pitched in a World Series. As an umpire, he took part in two World series, becoming only the third man to both play and umpire in the World Series. In between his long stints as a Big League pitcher and umpire, Rommel spent several years as a major league coach, a season as a minor league manager, and two years as a minor league umpire. Thus, Rommel was around baseball almost continually for forty years, and his long playing and umpiring careers gave him tremendous access to players and managers. As a collector, Rommel knew baseball personages from the early days of baseball through players who debuted in the 1950s and played into the 1970s. Thus, Rommel’s likeable personality and baseball connections meant that he could obtain practically any autograph or photo he desired. Thus, from Cobb and Hornsby and Home Run Baker; from Connie Mack, Ruth, Gehrig, and Foxx; from Mantle, Ted Williams, and Jackie Robinson, Ed Rommel obtained great autographs on baseballs and photos from players and managers who were only too happy to oblige their friend. A wonderful, unique find.