Opening Day Auction 2014
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/26/2014
When Ty Cobb passed away in 1961, finance and economics professor (and baseball fan) Lawrence Ritter lamented there was no history of the early days of baseball. So Ritter embarked on a multi-year journey, tracking down dozens of former players to get their thoughts on the games, players and teams of the early days. That book was The Glory of Their Times: The Story Of The Early Days Of Baseball Told By The Men Who Played It, edited by Ritter and published in 1966, telling those stories of early 20th century baseball. It is widely acclaimed, and is this writer’s opinion, as the greatest book written about baseball. Ritter interviewed over two dozen men, of which 22 had their stories presented in the book. Ritter did not “write” this book, and the entire written contents are in the players own words. This collection includes correspondence between the players and Ritter, who became friends with most, if not all the players he interviewed. Included are Christmas cards and letters (mostly handwritten), which include conversations about the book, receipt of royalty checks and even discussions of current health and status. Interestingly, Sad Sam Jones’ letter indicates he was in the hospital and seeking to be released soon. He ended up passing away a few months later. This collection is a history of this historical book, and two players Rube Marquard and Goose Goslin credited The Glory of Their Times for their induction to the Hall of Fame. Sizes of the letters range from approximately 5.50” x 7.25” to almost 8” x 11” and are either written mostly in ink with a few in marker. While all items are signed fully by the subjects, one item (James Cool Papa Bell’s letter) appears to be secretarial. In addition, there are three royalty checks, written out on Lawrence S. Ritter’s account to John T. (Chief) Meyers, Stan Coveleski and Bill Wambsganss, all endorsed by the players on the reverse. Includes: LETTERS - Rube Marquard (HOF): THREE handwritten letters, dated from 1966 and 1967, all referencing the book, all signed “Rube Marquard”; Harry Hooper (HOF): handwritten letter, dated Oct. 29 (no year), signed “Harry Hooper”; Cool Papa Bell (HOF): handwritten letter, dated 5/26/70, signed “Yours Sincerely James” (secretarial); Stan Coveleski (HOF): handwritten letter, dated Oct. 21-65, signed “Stan Coveleski” (secretarial); Fred Snodgrass – handwritten letter, dated 10/27/72, signed “Fred C. Snodgrass” form the famous “muffed catch”; Sam Jones – handwritten letter, dated Dec. 9, 1965, signed “Sam P. Jones”; Smoky Joe Wood: handwritten letter, dated Nov. 11, ’73, signed “Joe Wood” – Walter Johnson once said “no one throws harder than Joe Wood; Dave Bancroft (HOF): typewritten letter, dated August 15, 1963, signed “Dave Bancroft”; Chief Meyers: handwritten letter, dated May 9, 1964, signed “Chief Meyers”. Thanks Ritter for sending him “those fine cigars”; Edd J. Roush (HOF): handwritten letter, dated Oct. 27, 1968, signed “Edd J. Roush”. Christmas Cards – Goose Goslin (HOF): Inscribed “Hello Larry” signed ‘“Goose” Goslin’; Harry Hooper (HOF): inscribed to “Dear Larry” and signed “Harry Hooper”. Checks – three checks, all signed “Lawrence Ritter” on signature line, endorsed by John T. Meyers, Stanley Coveleski and Bill Wambsganss. Sam Crawford – includes a Polaroid photo of Crawford by a car as Parade Marshall, signed on reverse “Wahoo Sam” Crawford, dated Sept. 1965, plus a 3x5 index card with “doodling by Wahoo Sam”; Lastly, there is a handwritten note from Larry Ritter to our consignor reading, “Mike – Hope this letter fills the bill. You mentioned that you had a paperback copy of the Glory of Their Times. Do you have a hardcover copy as well? If not, let me know and I’ll send you one with my compliments. Larry Ritter.” This is a tremendous collection relating the greatest baseball book of all time, one which opened the door to how baseball was like in the early days.