The inaugural World Series in 1903 featured the Boston Americans — renamed the Red Sox in 1907 — and the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 1953 baseball decided to have a Golden Jubilee in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Series. In the collection is a baseball signed at that reunion with the signatures of six of the players who competed in 1903. On this panel is the pair of pitchers who secured the title for the Boston club. Bill Dinneen claimed three of the necessary five victories while Denton True “Cy” Young pitched his way to the other two. A four-time 20-game winner, Dinneen won 170 games over the course of his 12-year playing career. When his pitching career ended Dinneen became a highly respected American League umpire from 1909-1937. In fact Dinneen was so well regarded that he was selected to call balls and strikes in the first All Star game in 1933. Young of course went on to win 511 games and have the most prestigious award given to pitchers named in his honor.

Dinneen was so highly respected that the Hall included him in their Honor Rolls of Baseball in 1946.

The other four signatures on the ball commemorating the 50th anniversary of the first World Series are shown here. Hall of Fame Pirate left fielder and manager Fred Clarke has signed at the top of the quartet. Still the Pittsburgh franchise record holder for wins by a manager, Clarke guided his teams to four NL championships and one World Series title. As a player Clarke finished with 2,678 career hits and a .312 lifetime average. Below Clarke is the signature of Art Krueger utility player and catcher for the Pirates. The third signature on the ball is that of Boston second baseman Fred Parent while Pirate shortstop Tommie Leach signed the bottom.