This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/10/2001.
Before Roy Campanella became the big leagues' first black catcher in 1948, he had already won plaudits for his play in the Negro Leagues. Campy was so respected that after Branch Rickey signed him in 1946 and he was sent to the Brooklyn Dodgers' minor league club in Nashua, New Hampshire, he became a manager (for a day) after Walt Alston was ejected and turned the lineup over to the stocky catcher. Campy's last minor league stop was with the International League Montreal Royals in 1947, where he won the league's MVP award, a harbinger of what would be a three-time MVP career with the Dodgers. Campanella's strong-7 signature is in blue ink is one of 24 from that Royals team on this lightly-toned Official IL ball, including manager Clay Hopper. While most of the names are obscure, trivia buffs will note the presence of Al Campanis, who as Dodger GM in 1987 would make racially insensitive remarks on national TV that cost him his job.