1911 Jim O'Rourke Handwritten and Signed Letter PSA/DNA NM 7

Sold For:

$21,600

Year:

1911

Auction:

2025 Spring

Lot #:

2385

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

Extremely rare one-page handwritten letter, dated March 28, 1911, by nineteenth-century Hall of Famer James "Orator" O'Rourke. PSA/DNA has encapsulated the letter and graded the signature NM 7. O'Rourke writes in full: "Dear Sir - You are hereby notified that the directors of the Connecticut League have awarded you to the New Britain Base Ball Club and you are requested [illegible] there on April 10th 1911 - reporting day of said club. Yours truly J H O'Rourke, Secy." Both the text and signature have been scripted in black ink. It is interesting to note that this letter is made out to a "Mr. John Hoey." According to the SABR website, "Hoey became the center of a controversy when he was sold by the president of the Waterbury club for $1 to the New Britain ballclub as part of what appeared to be a side deal in exchange for a vote at a meeting of the Connecticut League." Amazingly, this letter documents that particular transaction. Nicknamed "Orator Jim" for his acute verbosity, O’Rourke played in the National Association, the National League, and the Players' League over the course of his nineteen-year career, and was a member of the New York Giants' 1888 and 1889 World Championship clubs. One of the top hitters of his era, he finished his career with a .310 lifetime average and one batting title (1884 with Buffalo). He is also noteworthy for having made the first hit in National League history, in 1876. Twenty-eight years later, at the age of fifty-two, O'Rourke again made history by becoming the oldest player to play a complete game in the Majors. Coaxed out of retirement for one game by John McGraw, O'Rourke caught all nine innings for the Giants in a game against the Reds at the Polo Grounds on September 22, 1904. O'Rourke had one hit in four at bats as the Giants defeated the Reds 7-5 to clinch the National League pennant. O'Rourke originally retired after the 1893 season but remained in baseball in a number of capacities: managing in the minors, umpiring for one year in the Majors, and serving as president of the Connecticut League (which later became the Eastern Association). O'Rourke passed away in 1919 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945. Although O'Rourke served in an official capacity for a number of years, his signature remains one of the most elusive of all Hall of Fame players. The letter (8.25 x 10.75 inches) displays normal mailing folds and a staple hole in the upper left. In Very Good to Excellent condition overall.