Waddy Young's 1942 Gruen All-Star Watch
This is a 17-jewel 1942 Gruen Veri Thin 10kt gold watch, featuring articulated lugs and a caliber 430 movement. The square case measures 40mm lug tip to lug tip by 23mm in width. The two tone silver dial is 100% original and has been cleaned but not refinished. It has gold hour numerals with gold hour, minute and sub seconds hands. The watch is signed "Precision" above the sub seconds dial, and "Switzerland" at the bottom of the dial. The case back it is inscribed "Army All Stars / 1942 / W.R Young".
This watch was purchased in March 2018 from an eBay seller in California. "I bought the watch a while back from a Hawaiian guy who was a surfer. He said he wears his watch even when he surfs, so these watches were no longer any good to him and it was just sitting in a drawer for the last 25 years. He told me he bought the watch a long time ago from a guy who repaired and sold used watches at Macy's".
Who Received a Gruen All-Star Watch?
It appears that each member of both the 1942 Western and Eastern All Star teams received a custom Gruen engraved with
"Army All Stars / 1942" and the player's name (First name initials / last name). Another eBay seller advertised a watch presented to Henry "Heine" Adams, who played for the University of Pittsburgh. Adams was a member of the Eastern Army All-Stars. (I unfortunately didn't buy it!!!!)
