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.

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.

Denton True “Cy” Young won an astounding 511 games in his remarkable 22-year Hall of Fame career. He remains baseball’s all-time leader in wins, losses, starts, complete games, innings pitched, and batters faced. In 1956, Major League Baseball began the Cy Young Award. From 1956-1966 the it was given to only one pitcher in all of baseball. Starting in 1967 the award was given to a pitcher in each league.

Cy Young pitched from 1890-1911 and won 511 games. When Young died in 1955 baseball commissioner Ford Frick decided to annually honor the best pitcher in the big leagues with the Cy Young Award. From 1956-1966 one award was given for both leagues. In 1967 baseball switched gears and recognized one pitcher from each league. Shown here is an 8×10 photo of an aging Cy Young with Indians great Bob Feller. The Cleveland pitcher has signed his name over his uniform. Though he led the American League in wins six times and was clearly the best pitcher in his league in multiple seasons, timing prohibited Feller from winning the Cy Young Award. With his best years behind him, Feller pitched only in the first year the award was offered.