Let's see some old handwritten letters!

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Al Stump should be referred to as biographer/forger.

Really? I thought forgery only pertained to documents. Did he actually forge Cobb's signature?

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by runscott

really? I thought forgery only pertained to documents. Did he actually forge cobb's signature?

yes!!

[mr2686]

Am I the only one that has been intigued by the paradox or contrast in reading personal letters written by Cobb vs. the lasting image of him provided by biographers such as Al Stump?

I'm with ya Scott. The Cobb in written letters really doesn't seem to match that of Stump's writing or how he's remembered for his demeanor as a player. Thowing out Stump's garbage, I think you're left with a complex character that could be mean and cantankerious one time, and generous and considerate another time. In other words, human.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Runscott

Really? I thought forgery only pertained to documents. Did he actually forge Cobb's signature?

Stump was a noted forger, primarily forging handwritten letters which he did sign "Ty Cobb."
If you meant did he sign an index card, baseball card, etc. to create a fake autograph, I am not aware of that happening.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by RichardSimon

Stump was a noted forger, primarily forging handwritten letters which he did sign "Ty Cobb."
If you meant did he sign an index card, baseball card, etc. to create a fake autograph, I am not aware of that happening.

That's incredible. I was aware that he had sold items saying they belonged to Cobb, but didn't know that he actually forged documents. Thanks.

[RichardSimon]

Originally Posted by Runscott

That's incredible. I was aware that he had sold items saying they belonged to Cobb, but didn't know that he actually forged documents. Thanks.

The story is widely known in the hobby.
A well known former dealer was the one who bought them initially from Stump and circulated them through the hobby.
They still turn up occasionally.
Many of them have great content. But Stump was a writer so I guess making up great letters was second nature for him.

[Matt Felix]

Looking through this thread I could not help but think that while other areas of the hobby seem to continue on with minor changes (autographs and game used items) and some with drastic changes (cards and photographs). It seems to me like this area, hand written letters, is probably all but dead.
I cannot imagine Jeter or Pujols writing anything by hand.

Perhaps future collectors will have a tread showing off emails from players?

[Scott Garner]

Originally Posted by Matt Felix

Looking through this thread I could not help but think that while other areas of the hobby seem to continue on with minor changes (autographs and game used items) and some with drastic changes (cards and photographs). It seems to me like this area, hand written letters, is probably all but dead.
I cannot imagine Jeter or Pujols writing anything by hand.

Perhaps future collectors will have a tread showing off emails from players?

Tweets on Twitter...

[Runscott]

Pardon me, Scott

[scooter729]

To keep it going with letters, this from Clyde Engle, also written to Jim McNulty, president of the Northern League. It was written two weeks before Engle's death, with good content about Engle's coaching Toronto in the International League...

[scmavl]

Originally Posted by Matt Felix

Looking through this thread I could not help but think that while other areas of the hobby seem to continue on with minor changes (autographs and game used items) and some with drastic changes (cards and photographs). It seems to me like this area, hand written letters, is probably all but dead.
I cannot imagine Jeter or Pujols writing anything by hand.

Perhaps future collectors will have a tread showing off emails from players?

I received an email from Harmon Killebrew a few months before he passed. I had sent his foundation a question about a donation and he responded personally.

[Forever Young]

Outside of my Type 1 photo collecting, I also enjoy rookie signatures(dated). Below is a 3 page letter written by Teddy Ballgame before he was Teddy Ballgame. It is also signed at the bottom. It was written on May 28, 1938 while he played for the Minneapolis Millers.

It has great baseball content:

“Hit a homer the first day in KC but yesterday I didn’t even hit a loud foul. Today I’m going to try to hit another one out. I’ve got 11 already” “Sure is hot here it was 83 the first day here. Next time we hit town it will probably be 100”. “saw the picture Robin Hood, it sure was a good one. I’m telling all the guys about your shooting.”

[Runscott]

pardon me.