"Los Angeles baseball collector Seth Swirsky has found a creative way to put together a unique baseball collection"
Owen Edwards, GQ Magazine June, 2000
 

"One of the most sustaining things about the baseball hobby is the realization that, in many cases, some of the most spectacular pieces of historic baseball memorabilia wind up in hands of remarkable people who seem more than worthy caretakers of the game’s treasures. Seth Swirsky would seem to fit nicely into that category."
T.S. O’Connell, Sports
Collector’s Digest
June 23, 2000
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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".