From one of the well-known reunions in the 1950s comes this 1938 All-Star signed ball. This remarkable Official American League (Harridge) baseball (EX-MT) features 16 signatures including Joe Medwick, Jimmie Foxx, John Vander Meer, Earl Averill, Ival Goodman, Lloyd Waner, Tom Henrich, Fritz Maisel, Mike Higgins, Lefty Grove, Bill Terry, Babe Phelps, Red Rolfe, Joe Cronin, Ernie Lombardi and Joe DiMaggio. Signatures average 7-8/10.

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.