Ban Johnson signs Pee Wee Wanninger's 1925 contract - the year he ended one streak and started another
In the collection is a historic baseball contract signed by American League president and Hall of Famer Ban Johnson. The contract represents a beginning and an end to two of the three longest consecutive-games
Ban Johnson signs Pee Wee Wanninger's 1925 contract - the year he ended one streak and started another
In the collection is a historic baseball contract signed by American League president and Hall of Famer Ban Johnson. The contract represents a beginning and an end to two of the three longest consecutive-games streaks in the history of Major League Baseball.
Cal Ripken holds the all-time record for consecutive games played with 2,632. Second on the list is Lou Gehrig with 2,130; third is Everett Scott with 1,307. Pee Wee Wanninger is tied to both men behind Ripken.
In the 1925 season a 32-year old Scott was slipping at shortstop and at the plate. When Yankee manager Miller Huggins saw fit to bench Scott and end the streak, he turned to the rookie Wanninger. On May 5th, 1925 Wanninger started in place of Scott to end what is still the third longest run in MLB history.
Four weeks later Huggins called on 22-year old Lou Gehrig to pinch hit for Wanninger in what would be the start of Gehrig’s own streak.
In the collection is Wanninger’s player’s contract for the 1925 season in which he helped stop and start two of baseball’s most prolific consecutive games streaks. The front page is also signed by Hall of Fame executive Ban Johnson.
File copy letter written from Yanks owner to Ban Johnson about Dazzy Vance's contract
Though remembered for his 12 years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Dazzy Vance spend much of the early part of his career with the Yankees. Shown here is a file copy letter to American League president Ban Johnson dated August 6, 1915,
File copy letter written from Yanks owner to Ban Johnson about Dazzy Vance's contract
Though remembered for his 12 years with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Dazzy Vance spend much of the early part of his career with the Yankees. Shown here is a file copy letter to American League president Ban Johnson dated August 6, 1915, seven years before Vance would win his first Major League game. Yanks co-owner TL Huston writes to Johnson informing him that New York purchased Vance’s contract from the Minor League team in St. Joseph, Missouri. Vance’s MLB debut came in April of the same year for the Pirates.
Ban Johnson's response to the letter about Dazzy Vance
Hall of Fame executive Ban Johnson acknowledges receipt of the letter in this August 9 correspondence and has signed his name at the bottom. Dazzy Vance would make his Yankee debut 19 days later. Vance would end up winless in ten career games for the Yankees before finding stardom in Brooklyn.
Ban Johnson's response to the letter about Dazzy Vance
Hall of Fame executive Ban Johnson acknowledges receipt of the letter in this August 9 correspondence and has signed his name at the bottom. Dazzy Vance would make his Yankee debut 19 days later. Vance would end up winless in ten career games for the Yankees before finding stardom in Brooklyn.
Ban Johnson writes to Yankee owner T.L. Huston in 1915 re: Wally Pipp
As American League president Ban Johnson signed plenty of mundane official correspondences. This piece rises above that standard. In this letter of February 5, 1915, Johnson writes to Yankee owner, Capt. T.L. Huston about the purchase of Andy High and Wally Pipp from the Detroit Tigers. Forever link
Ban Johnson writes to Yankee owner T.L. Huston in 1915 re: Wally Pipp
As American League president Ban Johnson signed plenty of mundane official correspondences. This piece rises above that standard.
In this letter of February 5, 1915, Johnson writes to Yankee owner, Capt. T.L. Huston about the purchase of Andy High and Wally Pipp from the Detroit Tigers. Forever linked to Lou Gehrig in baseball lore, Pipp played first base for the Yankees for 11 years as a key cog in the AL pennant winning teams of 1921-1923.
AL chief Joe Cronin responds to request for autographs of Ban Johnson, ES Barnard
Three years after his induction to Cooperstown in 1956, seven-time All Star Joe Cronin was named president of the American League. It was in this capacity that Cronin signed this letter to an autograph hound seeking the signatures of the first and second AL chiefs. The American League began in 1901
AL chief Joe Cronin responds to request for autographs of Ban Johnson, ES Barnard
Three years after his induction to Cooperstown in 1956, seven-time All Star Joe Cronin was named president of the American League. It was in this capacity that Cronin signed this letter to an autograph hound seeking the signatures of the first and second AL chiefs.
The American League began in 1901 with Ban Johnson at the helm of the highest office, a position he held for more than a quarter century until he was ousted by the owners in 1927. Johnson was a titan of the game during his reign.
Indians GM Ernest Barnard was tabbed to replace Johnson. Barnard served the Cleveland club for 24 years first as traveling secretary, general manager, and finally as the team president. Popular as AL president, Barnard was elected to his second three-year term in late 1930 but died suddenly just three months after his vote. A few hours later his predecessor Ban Johnson also succumbed.
William Harridge who held the league’s presidency from 1931 until Cronin took over in 1959 had high regard for Johnson, saying, “He was the most brilliant man the game has ever known. He was more responsible for making baseball the national game than anyone in the history of the sport”.
Harridge himself remains relevant today. Since 2017 the William Harridge Trophy has been presented to the champions of the American League.
In the collection is this letter written by Cronin who held the AL presidency from 1959-1973. Cronin tells the collector, “Mr. Harridge, I know, will gladly send you his autograph and he may have autographs of Ban Johnson and Ernest S. Barnard.” The letter spans the American League presidency from the position’s inception with Johnson (1901-1927), to Barnard (1927-1931), Harridge (1931-1959), and finally to Cronin (1959-1973).
Today the Oakland Athletics sport a white elephant on their uniform. They also use the pale pachyderm in sales and marketing.
What is the link between the A’s and a white elephant?
It all began because of a feud at the dawn of a new century during the inception of the American League.
John McGraw, Ban Johnson, and Connie Mack – Cooperstown men all – were at the center of the battle. What could’ve been a debacle is today an enduring part of baseball history.
America’s National Pastime has a long and glorious history separates it from every other North American sport.
Enjoy the article that links three baseball titans to the present day.
