Offered is a typed letter dated December 9, 1920 from American League President Ban Johnson to New York Yankees owner Jackob Ruppert. By that time, there was a growing friction between Johnson and the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox due in large part to disputes with Harry Frazee of the Red Sox and Charles Comiskey of the White Sox. It was shortly before this letter was typed that the first indictments were issued to the eight baseball players and five gamblers in the infamous “Black Sox Scandal” that tarnished the 1919 World Series and furthered the divide between the three clubs and Johnson.

                Despite talk of the White Sox, Yankees and Red Sox breaking away with the American League to join and form a 12-team National League, Johnson still conducted business-as-usual in sending this typed letter to Ruppert. On the upper left portion of this letter is printed “AMERICAN LEAGUE PROFESSIONAL BAE BALL CLUBS FISHER BUILDING CHICAGO”. The location and date “CHICAGO, December 9, 1920.” Is typed on the upper right portion and the letter reads: “Mr. Jacob Ruppert, President, Base Ball Club, New York City, N.Y. Dear Sir: The Annual Meeting of the American League will be held at the Belmont Hotel, New York City, on Wednesday, December 15^th, 1920. The Board of Directors will meet at eleven O’clock in the forenoon of that day, and the League members will assemble at two P.M. on the same date. I am -  Yours truly,”. Johnson signed his name in black pen below and slightly to the right of the “Yours truly,”. Johnson’s signature is light but most certainly readable and there are two vertical crease marks and one horizontal crease, consistent with being folded and placed in an envelope. This toned 8 ½ x 11 inch letter has been matted and framed to a dimension of 12 x 13 ¾ inches and comes with a LOA from JSA (B21766).

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