In 1883, the New York Giants became the first New York-based ballclub to play in the National League. Over their illustrious 74 seasons in New York, the Giants employed all-time greats such as Christie Mathewson, Mel Ott, and Willie Mays, while participating in innumerable memorable moments, including the indelible “Shot Heard Round the World”.

     The history of the New York Giants began in 1882, with the very documents offered here. The first item in this treasured collection is the letter the Giants sent to the league offices to apply for membership in the young National League. It reads simply, “The New York Ball Club of N.Y. City hereby applies for League membership”. With this sentence, baseball history was written. The letter, which was written on letterhead from The Continental Hotel in Philadelphia, features the signatures of three National League officials, including league president Arthur H. Soden, beneath an acknowledgement of receipt on the bottom of the page. This 5 x 8 inch letter is dated to September 22nd, 1882, and is both written and signed in black pen. There is evidence of toning, and several small tears on this letter, that do not impinge upon the quality of the document.

     The second letter is a second application, dated to November 12th, 1882. Written on the 4 x 5 ½ inch page is “The New York Ball Club hereby applies for League membership”. John B. Day and Charles Dillingham, executives with the club, signed the page in black pen. The final item in this collection is a letter, from October 27th, 1920, from Robert Young, the son of former National League President Nicholas Young, to Charles Stoneham, then the owner of the Giants. In this letter, he describes finding the aforementioned documents, which he then mailed to Stoneham. This letter is written on official Department of Justice letterhead in black pen. Young signed it in black pen. These items are an incredible piece of baseball history, and an undoubtedly unique memento of one of the most storied baseball clubs in the game’s grand history. This item comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA.

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