
Letters & Documents
This part of my collection consists
of letters and documents from baseball's rich history.
One of my favorites is the letter written in 1922 to "Shoeless"
Joe Jackson from the Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw
"Mountain" Landis banning Joe from the game
forever for his part in the "throwing of the World
Series of 1919". There's also a fan letter written
by a small boy to "Shoeless" Joe at the end
of Joe's life requesting his autograph. "Shoeless"
Joe was illiterate so he didn't send the boy an autograph.
At Joe's bedside upon his death in 1950, was the boy's
letter and envelope. On the back of the envelope "Shoeless"
Joe had signed his name the best he could and attempted
it a third time.
Another fascinating letter is one written by President
Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1954 to his idol, baseball immortal
Honus Wagner commemorating Wagner's 80th birthday. Even
Five Star Generals who become President of the United
States can write fan letters.
One of my favorite documents include the check written
to Boston Red Sox manager Jake Stahl for over $88,000.00:
the total winner's share for the World Champion Sox that
year. I found an actual copy of a Boston newspaper from
the day after Stahl was given the check and they reprinted
it in the paper. Talk about authenticity!
Related links:
Read my baseball poem, Mulrooney On The Hill,
illustrated by former pitcher Bob Tewksbury.
Listen to my song There's Nothing Like The Game
of Baseball.
See my 3 books: Baseball Letters,
Every Pitcher Tells A Story, and Something
to Write Home About.
Hear Hall of Famer Ernie Banks describe how he came
up with his famous phrase "Let's Play Two".
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