Fall 2017 - Item detail
1951 Ty Cobb Handwritten Letter in Framed Display - Cobb Lobbies For Heilmann's Induction Into the Hall of Fame
- Sold For:
- $1,080
- Year:
- 1951
- Auction:
- 2017 Fall
- Lot #:
- 1607
- Category:
- Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos
Two-page handwritten letter, dated May 24, 1951, signed by Hall of Fame outfielder Ty Cobb. In his letter, written on his personal stationery to a writer with the Sporting News, Cobb asks for help in lobbying support to get former teammate Harry Heilmann elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. In part:
Dear Sal: - First I want to express myself to you about the work you did for the Sporting News Record book, it was so very complete and so very complimentary to me, I am very proud of all you did. . . . Here is something that should be done and I am going to try in every way in my humble efforts and I am going to ask that you suggest any way I can in my way to help in getting Harry Heilmann in the Baseball Hall of Fame, he is due to go in for sure this year, the poll indicated it, he rates it, he was the second best right hand hitter in my span of years, his three year record or maybe four will rate with any, his grand average was high, he would play any where he was asked, he came back in radio, he is very sick and he should be assured so he could be pleased before too late - if - I have in mind writing several to get things started also will write any one who can influence or help, so won't you write me some effective way I can try. The boy should go in this year and if possible to have him know that he will even if it might not be strictly according to rules. . . . I am, as ever, Ty.
Both the text and Cobb's signature (first name only) have been scripted in his customary green ink and grade "9/10." It seems almost hard to believe in this day and age that a player who led the league in batting four times, including one season in which he hit over .400, and finished his seventeen-year career with a .342 average, would have trouble making the Hall of Fame, but that was exactly the situation Heilmann found himself in at the time. Heilmann retired in 1932 and, incredibly, during his first nine years of eligibility (1937-1945) he never garnered more than fourteen votes! Sadly, the main reason Cobb was taking an active interest in Heilmann's election in 1951 was because Heilmann was suffering from cancer and did not have much longer to live. Even with Cobb's help, Heilmann fell seventeen votes short in 1951. Unfortunately, Heilmann died six weeks after Cobb wrote this letter. Perhaps Heilmann's death softened the hearts of some of the Hall of Fame voters, because the following year he was easily elected to the Hall, receiving the highest number of votes (203) of any candidate. Each page of the letter (7 x 10 inches) displays two horizontal mailing folds, while the first page also has a paperclip impression along the top. In Excellent condition overall. Both pages have been mounted (most likely by an adhesive) to a white cardboard backing, which has been framed to total dimensions of 19.25 x 14.5 inches. Full LOAs from PSA/DNA and Steve Grad and Brian Sobrero/Beckett Authentication. Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Pre-certified by SGC Authentic. Reserve $300. Estimate $500/$1,000.
Dear Sal: - First I want to express myself to you about the work you did for the Sporting News Record book, it was so very complete and so very complimentary to me, I am very proud of all you did. . . . Here is something that should be done and I am going to try in every way in my humble efforts and I am going to ask that you suggest any way I can in my way to help in getting Harry Heilmann in the Baseball Hall of Fame, he is due to go in for sure this year, the poll indicated it, he rates it, he was the second best right hand hitter in my span of years, his three year record or maybe four will rate with any, his grand average was high, he would play any where he was asked, he came back in radio, he is very sick and he should be assured so he could be pleased before too late - if - I have in mind writing several to get things started also will write any one who can influence or help, so won't you write me some effective way I can try. The boy should go in this year and if possible to have him know that he will even if it might not be strictly according to rules. . . . I am, as ever, Ty.
Both the text and Cobb's signature (first name only) have been scripted in his customary green ink and grade "9/10." It seems almost hard to believe in this day and age that a player who led the league in batting four times, including one season in which he hit over .400, and finished his seventeen-year career with a .342 average, would have trouble making the Hall of Fame, but that was exactly the situation Heilmann found himself in at the time. Heilmann retired in 1932 and, incredibly, during his first nine years of eligibility (1937-1945) he never garnered more than fourteen votes! Sadly, the main reason Cobb was taking an active interest in Heilmann's election in 1951 was because Heilmann was suffering from cancer and did not have much longer to live. Even with Cobb's help, Heilmann fell seventeen votes short in 1951. Unfortunately, Heilmann died six weeks after Cobb wrote this letter. Perhaps Heilmann's death softened the hearts of some of the Hall of Fame voters, because the following year he was easily elected to the Hall, receiving the highest number of votes (203) of any candidate. Each page of the letter (7 x 10 inches) displays two horizontal mailing folds, while the first page also has a paperclip impression along the top. In Excellent condition overall. Both pages have been mounted (most likely by an adhesive) to a white cardboard backing, which has been framed to total dimensions of 19.25 x 14.5 inches. Full LOAs from PSA/DNA and Steve Grad and Brian Sobrero/Beckett Authentication. Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Pre-certified by SGC Authentic. Reserve $300. Estimate $500/$1,000.