Chevrons and Diamonds

1945 Spalding Official National League New London USCG Academy “Dolphins” Baseball

VetCollector
2–3 minutes
Viewing the ball from the main stamp panel, the stamps of the National League, Spalding brand, and “U.S.N.” are visible in their respective panels (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

When this ball was listed at auction, it was described as a Navy team. Drawing modest bidder interest, it appears that most were unaware of the identity of the team and the autograph signers were not as interesting. We instantly recognized that this was most-likely a U.S. Coast Guard team due to the presence of signatures from two known Coast Guardsmen, Doyle Lade and Randy Gumpert.

The 1945 New London USCG Academy “Dolphins” team did not play a full season as the war was winding down following the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings and baseball play was disbanded soon after. While this was an academy team, the players were largely serving as enlisted men.

To the left of the ONL stamp, the ball is inscribed with the team name, “Dolphins.” (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection)
In addition to dating this ball using the league stamp, it bears a “1945” year inscription to the right of the stamp (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

The Official National League (ONL) stamp was used from 1944 to 1946. Flanking the ONLY stamp, the ball was inscribed with “Dolphins” and “1945” which solidified the team’s identity.

The east panel is signed by Jack Norton and Jack McCall (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
Beneath Jack McCall’s autograph, Norman Jaeger placed his ink on the east panel (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
The east panel is also signed by Paul Welch (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
The four autographs on the east panel are (from ONL stamp, outward): Jack Norton, Jack McCall, Norman Jaeger, and Paul Welch (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).

1945 New London U.S. Coast Guard Academy “Dolphins” Full Season Roster:

PlayerPositionSignature on BallFormer
Joe AstrothCYes
Russ Bergmann3bKansas City (AA)
 Biggsp
Al CuccinelloSSYesHouston (TL)
Bill DayPYes
John W. DrokolisYes
Randy GumpertPYesAthletics
Joe HakeLFYes
Norman Jaeger1bYesJersey City (IL)
Moe KileyCF
Ernie KishLFYesMount Airy (BIST)
Doyle LadePYesShreveport (TL)
John M. McAfeeCoach
Jack McCall3BYes
Joe Muffoletto2bYesFon du Lac (WISL)
Jack NortonYes
Paul PrideCYesAugusta (SALL)
Dee W. SandersPYes
 Scan’rac
Paul WelchLFYesGadsden (SEAL)
Ken WoodRFYesElmira (EL)
The north panel was signed by Joe Astroth, Bill Day, and Randy Gumpert (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
Beneath Gumpert’s signature, the ball was signed by Ernie Kish, Joe Muffoletto, and John M. McAfee (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
Beneath Gumpert’s signature, the ball was signed by Ernie Kish, Joe Muffoletto, and John M. McAfee (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
Showing the 1945 “Dolphins” ball’s north panel including the “U.S.N” stamp and autographs.
The south or logo panel bears the autographs of John W. Drokolis and Doyle Lade (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
From the top of the west panel are the autographs from: Dee W. Sanders, Paul Pride, Ken Wood, and Al Cuccinello (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
The lone signature on the sweet spot was from left fielder Joe Hake (Chevrons and Diamonds Collection).
The autographs on the south, west and sweet spot panels of the New London USCG Academy “Dolphins” Baseball are quite crisp and easy to decipher.

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