Description:1934 Philadelphia Stars "Champions of…Negro League" decorated baseball. Rare Passon brand red and purple stitched baseball has "Quaker City League" noted on both sweetspots, one of which has an "Edward Gottlieb" facsimile signature below. Written in period ink on a side panel, in unknown hand, is an inscription reading "Phila. Stars, Champions Of National Negro League of 1934." Names of team members have been block letter printed throughout the surface and include Biz Mackey, Jud Wilson, Dick Seay, and Webster McDonald. The name of Slim Jones, a noted pitcher from the era, is done in slightly different and while no formal third party has been able to assess authenticity due to a lack of exemplars it remains possible that this is his autograph. Ball has soiling and some general use/wear throughout. Gottlieb was a part owner of the Philadelphia Stars but is best remembered for his involvement with basketball. He was instrumental in propelling Philadelphia as a center of early professional basketball: Overall VG-EX