Posted By:
VincentYea . . . I know this post is five months late. Somehow I missed seeing this thread back in May. But while late, I think I have an item of interest (and or rarity), especially to fans and collectors of vintage Detroit Tigers autographs.
I do not personally own this Clyde Hatter signed original Burke 4x6 photograph. Same old sob story; vintage autograph dealer Jim Stinson sold it to another collector, just prior to my phone call to purchase. But even though I lost out on purchasing this rare, signed photo, it’s still causes me to smile in appreciation of having had the opportunity to view it.
Clyde Hatter was born on August 7, 1908, in Poplar Hills, Kentucky. His first major league appearance was the Detroit Tigers, on April 23, 1935. Hatter spent the 1936 season in the minor leagues, but returned to the big leagues in 1937. His last major league appearance occurred early in that season, on May 10, 1937. Over the two seasons (1935, 1937) he played with Detroit, he appeared in 11 games, of which he was credited with 1 win versus 0 losses. His limited use might be explained by his career 8.44 ERA. Clyde Hatter died shortly after the conclusion of the 1937 regular season, on October 16th, of an apparent heart attack. Age . . . 29!
So I would hazard to guess this photo would have been signed between 1935 and 1937. Not a very large window of opportunity, for such an obscure ballplayer.
