With all the able-bodied men away at war, baseball turned to veterans and minor leaguers to keep the Major Leagues alive. The 1945 Giants were a case-in-point: aging vets Mel Ott, Van Mungo, Ray Berres, Billy Jurges and Ernie Lombardi joined together with youngsters Bill Voiselle, Ace Adams and Harry Feldman to keep the lights of MLB on until the boys returned home after the war. 24 members of the ’45 Giants have signed this Wilson ball in black fountain pen including Hall of Famers Ernie Lombardi and Mel Ott plus Van Mungo, George Hausmann, Ray Berres, Harry Feldman, Rube Fischer, Buddy Kerr, Johnny Gee, Bill De Konig, Steve Filipowicz, Phil Weintraub, Bill Emmerich, Adolfo Luque, Bubber Jonnard, Bill Jurges, Ray Harrell, Ewald Pyle, Red, Treadway, Jack Brewer, Bill Voiselle, Andy Hansen, Ace Adams and Johnny Hudson. An unknown hand has inscribed, “N.Y. GIANTS AT UPTON 5/7/45.” The signatures are very bold on the toned surface of this ball, displaying beautifully. The ball has been given a coat of shellac which has aged to a warm golden hue. This ball comes with a LOA from Steve Grad of Beckett Authentication for the signatures and has been graded a perfect Gem Mint 10.

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