Joe Cronin was as shortstop, manager and general manager. He also served as president of the American League (AL) for 14 years. During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47. A seven-time All-Star, Cronin was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956. Cronin became the first AL player to become an All-Star with two teams.

Salesman's sample rings for championship teams are customary every-year occurrences. But rarely, if ever, are such preliminary prototypes made for the Baseball Hall of Fame's induction rings. This is one of the unusual exceptions: a Balfour 10K gold salesman's sample ring from Joe Cronin’s 1956 Hall of Fame induction.  The top of this size “11” ring is surrounded by the words “Baseball Hall of Fame” with a baseball centered and embedded into a gorgeous black onyx. One side features the name "Cronin" on a nameplate with crossed bats over a baseball and "Elected 1956." The other side reads the "The National Baseball Hall of Fame" and "Short Stop" above. Stamped "Balfour 10K" inside with salesman numbers. Nice condition.

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