A tale of two catchers

[Thudhugger]

This post is directed to you sports historians out there.
My glove collection is based on endorsed gloves of the late 50s early 60s players. I use my 1961 Topps card collection as a guide for collecting gloves and I've come up against a dilemma.
In 1961 there were two catchers with the same name: Hal W. Smith played for the Pirates. His first full season was 1955, Hal S. Smith played for the Cardinals and broke in in 1956. Now, I have a really sweet Wilson catcher's mitt endorsed by Hal Smith... Which player was in Wilson's endorsement stable? Or was both?
I've seen a Denkert mitt endorsed by Smith but the signature looks the same so I'm assuming its only one of the two that got the contract. Any help would be as always deeply appreciated.

Thud

[BretMan]

My best guess would be Hal Raymond Smith, the Cardinals player.

The reason I say that is that the Redbirds backstop was selected as an All-Star in the 1957, 58 and 59 seasons- the same three seasons that Wilson issued mitts with his endorsement. His name likely carried more marketability.

But that is just a guess!

[softball66]

My 1956 NSGA breakdown of glove endorsements (called Composite List of Baseball Player Contracts) shows:
Harold W. "Hal" Smith an endorser for Wilson

My 1961 NSGA breakdown of glove endorsements (called Composite List of Baseball Player Contracts) shows:
no Hal Smiths
but Harold R. Smith for Wilson
Harold W. Smith also for Wilson (same? as '56)

Hope this helps, but to be totally sure, you may have to break it down by finding personal autographs of the two players and match them up to the stamped glove sig.

[Thudhugger]

Thanks for the info it gets me started. The signature on my glove and on the Denkert glove appear to be identical so I guess I've got to match it to the player. I agree that the more marketable All Star is the likely candidate of the two.

Thanks again for the help.

Thud

[Gloveguy]

There are several baseball cards and photos on ebay of both Hal Smiths. Some of the photos show each with a Wilson glove as stated previously. Perhaps the baseball card signatures will be of some help although even they are somewhat similar.