Johnny Cooney was signed by the Braves as a well-regarded prep pitcher and immediately joined the team as a twenty-year old but struggled somewhat over his nine seasons on the mound, flashing brilliance on occasion. His bat though, was legit and he would play in the field sometimes when he was not pitching. His left (pitching) arm locked up in 1927 and he underwent an operation that left it shorter than his right. After a final Boston flameout in 1930 he reinvented himself over five long seasons in the minors in the minors. He resurfaced with the Dodgers in 1935 and primarily roamed centerfield for the next decade with various teams, and as a player-coach his last few years.  He remained in organized ball through 1964, then retired.

He has only signed one 1939 Play Ball card per the PSA database and it's this one of course. There is scrapbook residue on the reverse, with a batting pose on the front that has a signature across it in blue ink. The autograph is in and out, with some loss of contact seen, especially in the last name.  PSA/DNA Authentic and a tough one. The card originates from the Shibe Park collection of autographed cards, an original owner collection carefully collected by a teenage boy who, in 1939 and 1940, obtained many autographs from players arriving at the train station near Shibe Park, and continued for many years to obtain signatures in person and through the mail.