SOLD Walter Johnson 20th Anniversary Day letter and ribbon

[Hankphenom]

$1,375 shipped. Walter Johnson was the only pitcher to have a 20th anniversary with the same team, on August 2, 1927, and somebody came up with the idea to spice up the festivities by inviting those fans who had also attended his first game in 1907 to go out on the field and be greeted by the great pitcher himself before he took the mound that day against the Tigers. Of course, several hours before the game there were thousands of fans, some probably not even 20 years old yet, lined up at the gate to participate in the advertised event. Realizing the impending disaster they had on their hands, cooler heads with the team called off the affair. To assuage disgruntled fans, they must have taken names and addresses, and the next day the Big Train sat down and signed multiple letters of apology that were sent to the disappointed "First Gamers" along with a silk ribbon intended to identify those qualifying for the special treatment at the game. From what must have seemed like a minor catastrophe at the time was created what today is one of the great WaJo collectibles in the form of one of those hand-signed letters along with the beautiful white and blue silk ribbon declaring that in 1907 and 1927 "I Saw Walter Pitch the First Game." Of the dozen or so examples of the letter I've seen over the years, and perhaps half that number of ribbons, these are each the finest examples I can remember. I would be willing to bet they were issued to and preserved in such wonderful condition by the same fan, who must have been thrilled to get them. The autograph is in the same slightly faded condition as every other one of these I've seen, a result of the type of ink used, I've been told by experts. I would judge the boldness a 5 or 6 on a scale of 10, with the letter itself exhibiting minor age toning but otherwise in the same tri-fold condition as when opened by the lucky fan. The ribbon, too, couldn't be much different from when that fan first laid eyes on it.

[benchod]

I'll take it

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by benchod

I'll take it

Thanks again!