October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
In August 1961, MLBPA representatives from each team met in Boston to discuss the continued segregation regarding black players during spring training. At that time, Florida, particularly the west coast, was still a hotbed of racial tensions, and segregation was practiced in many cities. This collection of correspondence begins with an August 7, 1961 letter from then MLBPA director Frank Scott, and legal adviser Robert Cannon, to each team discussing the MLBPA meeting and asking each team which still had segregation issues for “a brief summary of your situation with respect to housing all players under one roof during Spring Training.” Teams which DID NOT have issues received a letter asking to confirm such. Each team received these letters, which were addressed to either owners of the clubs or their general managers. Each team in MLB is represented except for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies. Team executives who signed their team’s replies include: Roy Hamey (Yankees), Lee MacPhail (Orioles), Hank Greenberg (White Sox), Gabe Paul (Indians), Calvin Griffith (Twins), Fred Haney (Angels), Frank Lane (Athletics), Ed Doherty (Senators), Wm. O. DeWitt (Reds), Walter O’Malley (Dodgers), Buzzie Bavasi (Dodgers), Horace Stoneham (Giants), Birdie Tebbetts (Braves), Bing Devine (Cardinals), Joe L. Brown (Pirates), and William Heymans (Cubs). The Gabe Paul letter is a stamped name, and many of the execs have only signed their first names. However, these letters include full signatures of MacPhail, Greenberg and Griffith. Buzzie Bavasi has quite a colorful retort, telling the MLBPA duo that “they must be out of their minds” and then ends with “Now get lost!” Certain responses include information about what the executives knew of their black ballplayer's thoughts on their housing situation. These letters included correspondence from Sam Lacy. He was pioneering African-American baseball writer who was the first black writer to became a member of the Baseball Writer's Association of America in 1948 (one year after Jackie Robinson). He later received the J.T. Taylor Spink Award and was elected in the writer/broadcaster wing of the Hall of Fame. This is a very interesting collection of documents registering people’s and teams' responses and opinions of the black players segregation issue, an event in society (and MLB) which was still happening 14 seasons after Jackie Robinson broke the baseball color barrier. Pre-certified by PSA/DNA.