In the early 1950's Major League Baseball ruled the minds and hearts of sports fans. One particular teenager during the era, Dorothy Stockbridge of Sarasota, Florida, was fortunate enough to live near the sites where several teams, including the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals held spring training. Her family's celery farm served the area and many of the players were customers, including the great Ted Williams. Dorothy built a massive autograph collection from the players of the era at spring training, including Williams, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Casey Stengel, Stan Musial and countless others. She was an avid fan and kept meticulous notes on the players, including what kind of cars they drove. Born in 1938, Dorothy's letter-to-the-editor as a 13-year-old praising the underappreciated skills of Red Sox outfielder Dom DiMaggio was published in the Sarasota paper. Dorothy's spunk and investigative skills served her well later in life, as she became a journalist for the Tampa Tribune and other publications. This extensive collection was recently discovered by the family and is proudly presented here, fresh to the hobby, after over 70 years. Each of the cut signatures included in this collection were carefully preserved, hundreds in total, each uniform in size. We have taken many of the key signatures, which appear to have been acquired in the very early 1950s, and had then authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA. The remaining signatures have been authenticated by James Spence Authentication and will carry auction LOAs.

The balance of Dorothy Stockbridge's cut signature collection, each card uniform in size at approximately 3 3/4" x 2 3/8" with blank backs, featuring 117 signatures acquired, largely in person, in the early 1950s. Each of these signatures were stored in an envelope on which was written "Autographs of Texas Leaguers." Indeed, most of the included signatures were from eventual major league ballplayers, many played with the various teams in the Texas League in 1953.

A list of signatures includes:Ralph Sayles, Van Harrington, Bud Byerly, John Temple, Wally Post (2), Ted Kluszewski, Bobby Adams, Al Federoff, Walt Dropo, Matt Batts, Harry David, Steve Souchock, Paul Campbell, Johnny Bucha, Fred Hartsfield (3), Johnny Pesky, Paul Schrieber, Ray Scarborough, Harry Schaeffer (3), Paul Hinrichs, Andy Carey, Loren Babe, Jim McDonald (2), Irv Noren, Bill Werle, Bill Miller, Alex Grammas, Joe Nuxhall, Ebba St. Claire, Jack Daniels, Bob Shipman, Connie Ryan, Stan Lopata (2), Frank Smith, Chuck Stobbs, Ken Wood, Floyd Baker, Pete Runnels, Al Sima, Walt Masterson, Bill Goodman, John Cooney, Lou Sleater, Leo Peden, Jackie Jensen, Gil Cocan, Mel Hoderlein, Bob Porterfield, Vern Benson, Virgil Stallcup, Earl Johnson, Bill Hitchcock, Walt Kellner, Arnie Portocarrero, Dick Donovan, John Logan, Joe Adcock (2), Joe Collins, Mel Parnell, Ellis Kinder, Sid Hudson, Al Richter, Maurice McDermott, George Susce, Joe Albanese, Mel McGaha, Jerry Witte, George Uhaze, Johnny Lipon, Milt Bolling, Al Zarilla, Jim Piersall, Bill Goodman, Harry Taylor, Billy Costa, Pete Lewis, George Hausmann, Jo Jo White, Bill Elbert, Bobby Balcena, Babe Martin, Bob Turley, Harry Craft, Eddie Knoblauch, Lee Mohr, Frank Kellert, Vance Carlson,  Al Gerheauser, Vern Petty, George Brown, Bill Hornsby, Artie Gore, Jim Hughes, Russ Meyer, Clem Sabine, Dizzy Trout, Rob Nelson, Marty Carlson, Walt Wrona, a number of illegible, and one multi-signed paper that includes signatures of Bob Nelson, Jim Willis, Charles Harrington, Bill Evans, Chico Garcia. Auction LOA from James Spence Authentication.