The 1939-40 Cincinnati Reds are one dynasty that fell through the cracks of history. The team rose from perennial 7th and 8th place finishers to a home-grown powerhouse that would cop two pennants, a World Championship. Managed by veteran Bill “The Deacon” McKechnie,” the Reds featured three of the best pitchers in the majors: Bucky Walters, Paul Derringer and Junior Thompson. Their infield of Billy Werber, Lonnie Frey, Billy Myers and Frank McCormick was the best defensive quartet in either league while the big bat of Ernie Lombardi drove in the runs. After winning the World Championship in 1940, the Reds added veterans Paul Waner and Ernie Koy to the lineup but eventually slipped to second place behind the Brooklyn Dodgers. 24 members of the 1941 defending World Champion Reds have signed this Wilson American Association ball including Hall of Famers Bill McKechnie and Ernie Lombardi plus Joe Beggs, Harry Craft, Jim Turner, Gene Thompson, Bucky Walters, Frank McCormick, Elmer Riddle, Whitey Moore, Lonnie Frey, Hank Gowdy, Ernie Koy, Billy Werber, Eddie Joost, Dick West, Chuck Alano, Johnny Rizzo, Mike McCormick, Lloyd Waner, Jim Gleeson, and Bobby Mattick. This ball comes with a LOA from JSA (BB34290) for the signatures.

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