Let's see your letters to or from Ballplayers...

[thekingofclout]

Letters, notes, telegrams, greeting cards, stationary, etc. You know what...hell with it, just show whatever ephemera you have.

I'll get it started with a sympathy letter to Mrs Babe Ruth from the former Postmaster General James A. Farley.

Farley was known as a political "kingmaker", and was responsible for Franklin D. Roosevelt's rise to the presidency. He was Roosevelt's campaign manager for his gubernatorial campaign's as well as FDR's Presidential campaigns in 1932 and 1936.


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[Ladder7]

One day, these should be very significant collectibles.

[martindl]

[perezfan]

Sorry in advance for the crappy photo. This is a letter from Chas. Comiskey to Deacon McGuire. It features a gorgeous early White Sox logo at the top, in gold filament. Comiskey thanks McGuire for his kindness, and promises good things from the White Sox during the 1930 season...

[slidekellyslide]

Here's one from the manager of the Norfolk Elks to Red Ruffing about a prospect from Ruffing's hometown.



This one is to the prospect


Here's a letter from the management of the Lincoln Chiefs to Branch Rickey Jr.

[David Atkatz]

1905 letter from Highlanders owner Frank Farrell to shortstop Kid Elberfeld, regarding his upcoming contract:

[Jay Wolt]

Here's 1 ex player writing to another on behalf of Baseball Assistance Team

[sbfinley]

Handwritten letter from Tiger's pitcher Tommy Bridges to a member of the Detroit coaching staff. Letter dates to the winter of 1929, just months before his Major League Debut. It is the earliest dated auto I have found of Bridges.
Thanks to Jodi for supplying it back in April.

[Lordstan]

Steven,
A little info for you.
I was interested in your letter thinking the Mr Doyle could be Larry Doyle.
When I looked up Doyle and Tigers coaches I found that no person named Doyle has been a Tiger coach. It's on the Detroit Tiger website.
http://detroit.tigers.mlb.com/det/history/coaches.jsp

Perhaps this person is a scout or minor league coach/manager.
I would be interesting to see the envelope for a destination address. Larry Doyle was likely in the Sarnac Lake, NY Sanitarium at that time, being treated for TB.

Another tidbit is the person named Pat on the third page is, I think, Pat Haley. He was the manager of the 1929 Wheeling WV Stogies, where a 22yo Bridges went 10-3 with a 3.14 era.

Mark

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

The Doyle in question is former Tiger scout Billy Doyle.

[Lordstan]

Thanks Jodi. Cool.

[thekingofclout]

congratulatory telegrams from legendary sportswriter Grantland Rice and Yankee GM George Weiss, and a Cooperstown Invitation.

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[sbfinley]

Jodi nailed it, and he would know considering he sold it to me. Guess I used the term "Coaching Staff" too loosely.

[thekingofclout]

walshletter.jpg

[prewarsports]

I have had or currently own quite a few early Baseball Letters. It is one of my favorite things to collect. Here are a few I had last year that are from some Old Judge guys so the names might be familiar.

Rhys

[prewarsports]

A couple more. I will try and see what scan folder I have some others in and post some more later.

Rhys

[thekingofclout]

gehrigtelegram1941.jpg
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[Oldtix]

Letters from a couple of Hall of Famers...

[Lordstan]

Nifty 1945 NY giants letterhead. Letter from Jack Schwarz (director of player development for the New York and San Francisco Giants. He joined the Giants in the 1930s as a junior assistant and he was a part of the organization until his retirement in 1982. One of his biggest signings may have been the deal that brought Willie McCovey to the Giants in 1955.) to NY Mirror writer Ken Smith.
I can't find Denardo listed anywhere in majors or minors records, so I guess he didn't pan out. It's interesting to hear him gloat about stealing prospect Billy Gardner.

[thekingofclout]

Ya coulda made us proud Pete...

rosekuhntelegram.jpg

[thekingofclout]

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[Heritage Sports]

This is a pretty incredible letter, one of the few Gehrig pieces you'll ever find dating beyond his July 4, 1939 farewell speech. It's just another bit of evidence to illustrate what a great man he was--taking the time to try to help a stranger when he was dealing with such an incredibly difficult time in his own life.

[FourStrikes]

December 31, 1946 two-page handwritten letter by actor CAMERON MITCHELL in response to columnist JIMMIE FIEDLER's inquiry regarding Mitchell's potential interest in playing the role of pitcher MONTY STRATTON in the movie "The Stratton Story"...the role of Stratton was landed by JAMES STEWART...the film also features NY YANKEES Hall of Fame catcher BILL DICKEY and PHILADELPHIA A's / CHICAGO WHITE SOX Third baseman JIMMY DYKES.


letter references Mitchell playing with future major league pitcher KEN RAFFENSBERGER on 1934-35 York, PA American Legion Team, as well as Mitchell's "chance to go south with the St. Louis Cards".


DS

[HexsHeroes]

.

Nothing earth shattering, but neat signed items from 19th century ballplayer John B. "Jack" Ryan, while he worked as a scout for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Can't complain about the $15 price for the pair either (which will be my last purchase of 2009).

.

[cbcbcb]

Did you just get that on ebay? I was looking at that and a couple others from the same seller.

[Jerry G]

Back in the '60's I bought a HOF Exhbit Card of George Sisler from The Card Collector's Co. Probably cost me a quarter. I decided to send it to Mr. Sisler to be autographed. I also asked what was his biggest thrill in baseball. He was kind enough to respond and I'll bet the answer surprises you.

You will also notice that the top of my notebook paper with my letter has been cut off. I'm sure I did this because I was just goofy or insecure about my handwriting or grammar. Remember there was no Spell Check back then. In a nostalgic way, I really regret not being able to see my 12-13 year old penmanship. More importantly, as a collector there would be a date on top. What a knucklehead!

[Forever Young]

Jerry,
That is the coolest thing man.

I wish Wade Boggs would have replied back to my letter at age 11...
I drew a picture of him based on his 1986 Topps card. I wrote him a letter during the infamous Margo Adams scandal and included my Picasso. In the letter, I told him he was my favorite player and that I believed he didn't do it/telling the truth...
Needless to say..he didn't write back...haha.
Dang...I wish I still had that letter and picture though.
Ben

[Jerry G]

Thank you, Ben.

I can just see your young self running to check the mail box with great anticipation every day for weeks and weeks knowing that today's the day! Innocence is a beautiful thing. Too bad it can't last forever.

It's also easy to imagine Wade's shock with Margo, "Wadda ya mean ya kept the motel keys???!!!

[HexsHeroes]

.

cbcbcb,

I did just obtain the Ryan signed business card and TLS via eBay. As a collector of vintage Detroit Tigers autographs, the content of the letter was relevant. I'd be curious to know what led to the gifting of the pen from the Tigers organization to Jack Ryan. Perhaps Tigers scout Wish Egan was involved in some capacity. And Jack Ryan had some prior history with Detroit baseball, since he played with the ball team in 1900 (prior to Detroit formally joining the American League in 1901).

Actually, the price for the pair was around $34 (not $15 as I mistakenly quoted earlier), but regardless, I am extremely pleased with the purchase.

[thekingofclout]

maris6061letterbymoose.jpg

And some of the pieces that tie it all together...

maris60hr.jpgmaris60HRticket.jpg

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[sb1]

Sorry for the bad image, it was a bit hard to shoot in the frame.

I sure would like to know to whom he wrote this, they must have really thought they were pretty good. Note the E107 mounted with the letter

Scott

[J.McMurry]

A note that former BB Commissioner Fay Vincent sent me after I wrote him expressing my disapointment on the failure of the HOF's special negro league committee to elect Buck O'Neil a couple years back.

[mr2686]

Great letter regarding Buck O'neil. In my opinion, they really missed the boat on electing him. If he was important enough to have a statue of him put up at the hall of fame, he should also be on the wall.

[J.McMurry]

My note to Fay was short and sweet. I wrote it on a 3x5 index card and it read like this:

Dear Mr. Vincent,

I know that you were the chairman of the Negro league committee and did not have a vote,but in regards
to the committee's failure to elect Buck O'Neil,

YOU BLEW IT !

Sincerely,
Jody McMurry

[stone193]

This is more of a cross-over - political type letter.

It from Pres. Hoover to John Heydler, Pres. of the NL, thanking him for the pass - dated April 10, 1933.



I will be having the item framed with this cool original pic of the Prez of the USA at the 1929 WS - he wouldn't be smilin' if he knew "black Friday" was in his immediate future!



This is a letter written by Ethan Allen in 1968 - referencing his retirement from Yale U and what he'll be subsequently doing.

I like his reference to his game - most game colectors have some of his games which were very popular in their day.