How about a thread for cool letters?

[byrone]

I own this Ty Cobb written letter, from January 30,1958. It was written to New Hampshire newsman Leo Cloutier, who held a sports celebrities dinner in NH each year. I think it provides awesome insight into Cobb the person, at least at that stage of his life. It is four pages in length, and was written after Cobb arrived back home in Georgia after having attended the event in New Hampshire.
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Ty Cobb
Cornelia, Georgia 1/30/58

Dear Leo:-

I wish to report that we got through ok by train to Boston and then train to N.Y. left by plane for Atlanta and then up here some 90 miles by auto.

I have had some very much needed rest since return, at my age I cannot take it so well anymore, have had sleep and rest around the clock for 4 or 5 nights since arriving back. Coming there may be my last for some time. I have determined to set a fee above the fee I asked of you and to eliminate the several that are contacting me , amongst two or three others Toronto has asked me to come there in April. I hope they won't meet my terms. I feel an obligation to go where the fee will send a student to college for a year otherwise I cannot go as I find it a hard & trying task at my age also with other matters of my own I should try to cope with.

I wish to thank you for your patience also your kindness to me and should also say the contribution to the Cobb Educational Foundation. I have 29 boys & girls in college now and I derive a great pleasure and satisfaction in doing this. We have some very fine boys & girls with unusually high marks as we have the pick from all the higher education institutions of Georgia from the Dean of Freshman Classes as one of the trustees is head of all these institutions of Georgia. Also each applicant after our investigation must qualify on the grounds of having had to work & fight their way through freshman year and their parents have no financial ability to further their education Etc. Wish I had had more time to tell you about this.

Again my thanks & appreciation to you, you certainly put on and developed an unusual affair.

My hope is that our God will grace you in every way. My kindest regards to Mrs. Cloutier who was so very nice in burdening herself with me during your event.

My best to you

Sincerely

Ty Cobb

P.S. Thanks for your thought in sending me all the papers

[Scott Garner]

Here is a letter from George W. Bradley to Harry Wright dated 1877 requesting the opportunity to join the Philadelphia club.
George "Grin" Bradley pitched the very 1st no-hitter in NL history on 7/15/1876.
This is an extremely rare autograph, and to find a complete early letter written in his own hand is even more unlikely.
Bradley's signature is certainly the rarest in my collection of no-hit pitcher signatures.

I have never posted a picture of this letter before, but it is one of my favorite pieces of my advanced no-hitter collection.

Here is a brief bio on Grin Bradley's 1st NL no-hitter from SABRE:

"George Washington Bradley of the St. Louis Brown Stockings shut out (or, in the baseball parlance of the time, “Chicagoed”) the Hartford Dark Blues by a score of 2-0 on July 15, 1876. Aside from their being Chicagoed, the Blues also failed to get any hits in the process (although Bradley did walk two) establishing this game as the first no-hitter in the history of the recently formed National League. Bradley’s nickname, “Grin,” came from the constant smile he showed to batters as he pitched. It apparently made a striking impression. Years after he retired, an article in The Sporting News mentioned that “no one before ever had such a tantalizing smirk.”2

While being the architect of the National League’s inaugural no-hitter is Bradley’s most noted accomplishment, during that same 1876 season besides shutting out the Dark Blues, he did the same to 15 other teams – a total of 16 shutouts in the season: a record that was matched only by Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1916 (it must be those presidential names). Referring to Bradley as the “Chicago King,” baseball historian David Nemec suggested that the term may have arisen because Bradley’s first shutout victim that season was the Chicago White Stockings, who succumbed 1-0 on May 5.3 The unlikelihood that this record will ever be surpassed is underscored by the fact that since Juan Marichal threw 10 shutouts in 1965, only three pitchers have reached double figures: Bob Gibson with 13 in 1968, Jim Palmer with 10 in 1975, and John Tudor with 10 in 1985.

Bradley’s professional career extended over 15 years, including 11 seasons with nine different teams in four different major leagues – in many ways mirroring Organized Baseball’s state of flux at the time. Appearing in 347 games as a pitcher, Bradley compiled 171 victories. He played in 269 other games as a position player – mostly at third base, where his fielding skills were quite accomplished. In addition to his major-league travels, Bradley played for eight minor-league teams."


Happy Thanksgiving to everyone on net54!

[rlevy]

Lots of interesting letters posted above. I have 2 to contribute,. The first is from Jackie Robinson, responding to a fan who didn't appreciate his comments regarding baseball. The second is from Sandy Koufax to a fan looking to buy a tennis racket from him. Pretty funny.

Jackie Robinson letter for posting.jpg
tennis racket letter for posting.jpg

[byrone]

Originally Posted by rlevy

Lots of interesting letters posted above. I have 2 to contribute,. The first is from Jackie Robinson, responding to a fan who didn't appreciate his comments regarding baseball. The second is from Sandy Koufax to a fan looking to buy a tennis racket from him. Pretty funny.

Attachment 427954
Attachment 427961

I didn’t know Koufax had a Maine connection

And here’s a chance to buy “Koufax Hill”


https://www.landsofamerica.com/prope...Maine/6572430/

[rlevy]

Originally Posted by byrone

I didn’t know Koufax had a Maine connection

And here’s a chance to buy “Koufax Hill”


https://www.landsofamerica.com/prope...Maine/6572430/

Koufax lived in Maine after he retired. I have an address for him in East Holden, about 20 miles from this parcel. Pretty cool it is still known for his ownership.

[Den*nis O*Brien]

Two Chicago players from the not so distant past.

[Exhibitman]

From my father's boyhood scrap book:



Sid Luckman, in case it isn't legible.

[doug.goodman]

Originally Posted by Exhibitman

Sid Luckman, in case it isn't legible.

Compared to the average autograph from most current players, it almost looks like Mr. Luckman used a typewriter.