Wes Ferrell began his big league career in 1927, the same year this card was signed. Such signatures from this early in his career are exceedingly difficult to find. A six-time 20-game winner, Ferrell twice posted 25 wins in a season.

At bat Ferrell was a menace, hitting 38 homers – the Major League record for pitchers. Many believe he has a legitimate resumé for Cooperstown.

After his big league career was over, Wes returned to the minor leagues and led the league in home runs once and batting twice

Ferrell’s older brother Rick is a Hall of Fame catcher. An odd choice for Cooperstown, Rick was elected by the Veterans Committee in 1984. A career .281 hitter, he finished with 1,692 hits, 28 homers, and 734 runs batted in.

Another brother George was a former minor league batting champion who played in the bushes from 1926 to 1945. Though he never made it to the big leagues, George batted over .300 in 13 minor league seasons and .321 for his career that featured 2,876 hits.

This autograph above is from the Heilbroner Baseball Bureau. The statistical service was founded by the manager of the 1900 Cardinals, Louis Heilbroner.

The Bureau was the first commercial statistical bureau dedicated entirely to baseball and was founded in 1909. On the left side of the card Wes has noted his age as 19. That dates the piece to 1927.

These cards provide highly-desirable early examples of autographs from players in the infancy of their careers.

The back of the Heilbroner card shows a brief listing of team for which Wes Ferrell played. The first team listed atop the card is Oak Ridge Military School in North Carolina. The year listed is 1926 when Ferrell was just 18 years old. The front of the card was signed in 1927.

Still a teenager at the time he filled it out, Ferrell could not have envisioned the success he would experience in the big leagues.

An All Star in the inaugural Mid Summer Classic, Ferrell averaged 20 wins per season during a eight-year run from 1929 to 1936. The next season he was again an All Star. Ferrell finished his career with 193 wins, a .280 batting average, and 38 home runs.

Wes Ferrell’s mound exploits are well documented. The right-hander has six 20-win seasons and 193 victories overall to his credit.

At the plate he slugged 38 home runs with all but one coming when he was in the lineup as a pitcher. The 37 homers as a hurler put him first on the all-time list of homers at the position.

Hall of Fame pitchers Bob Lemon and Warren Spahn come in at second on the list with 35. The great Babe Ruth his 14 homers as a pitcher with his other 700 coming as a position player.

When Ferrell pitched against Ruth, the Bambino owned him. In 97 plate appearances he slashed .354/.454/.585. Babe walked 15 times against Ferrell with 29 hits – 11 for extra bases.

Shown here is an autographed of the Sultan of Swat from 1948.

A strong Hall of Fame case can be made for Wes Ferrell. The six twenty-win seasons were complimented by an appearance in the sport’s first All Star game in 1933.

In the collection is National League president Warren Giles’ response to a fan about Ferrell’s Cooperstown candidacy. A Hall of Famer himself, Giles writes, “Wes has many qualifications and will no doubt be considered with others who appear qualified.” Giles has signed this letter at the bottom.

On the Hall of Fame ballot in 2016 via the Veterans Committee, Wes Ferrell again fell short of induction. The 10 candidates on the Pre-Integration Committee ballot were Doc Adams, Sam Breadon, Bill Dahlen, August (Garry) Herrmann, Marty Marion, Frank McCormick, Harry Stovey, Chris von der Ahe, Bucky Walters and Ferrell.

None gained 75% of the vote. Many believe Wes to be the more deserving of the Ferrell brothers for Hall of Fame inclusion.

Wes’ older brother Rick Ferrell is a Hall of Fame catcher.