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Al Rosen spent five years in the US Navy during World War II before getting his big league start in 1947. He bounced between the majors and minors until becoming the Indians everyday third baseman in 1950. Rosen found immediate success.

From 1950-1954, the Cleveland hot corner man was one of baseball’s best players. Rosen topped the 100 RBI mark each of those seasons, and led the league in both 1952 and ’53. The slugger hit the most homers in the AL in 1950 and again four years later.

During that five-year run he averaged 31 homers, 114 RBI and hit .298 with a .396 on-base percentage. Rosen’s slash line was .298/.396/.528. His OPS+ was 151

His career was cut short by back and leg issues. Rosen retired at age 32 at the end of the 1956 seacon.

In 2006 Rosen was inducted into the Indians’ Hall of Fame. He also is a member of the Texas League Hall of Fame, the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and the Cleveland Hall of Fame.

After retiring as a player, Rosen spent decades in front offices of the Yankees, Astros, and Giants.

In the collection is this government postcard signed by Al Rosen two weeks after the 1950 All Star game.

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The back of the government postcard autographed by Al Rosen has a postmark from Cleveland, Ohio dated July 26, 1950 at 5:00pm. Later that night Rosen and the Indians squared off against the Philadelphia Athletics led by Connie Mack.

Rosen went 2-for-4, also reaching base via a 7th inning walk. Dale Mitchell had two hits and three runs scored in the leadoff spot as Cleveland bested the Athletics 6-2.

Such government postcards provide verifiably vintage autographs. The postmarks give context to the events of the day.

Rosen lived 12 days after his 91st birthday, passing away in 2015. Though his signature is common, vintage autographs such as this one are highly desirable.

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Four-time All Star Al Rosen had his career year in 1953 when he was the unanimous selection in Most Valuable Player balloting. That season he narrowly missed winning the Triple Crown when he finished .001 behind Mickey Vernon who hit .336.

SABRmetrics star Bill James called the season the greatest ever by a third baseman. Rosen‘s 115 runs scored, 43 homers and 145 RBI led the league. He also topped the Junior Circuit in slugging percentage (.613), OPS (1.034), OPS+ (180), total bases (367), and WAR (10.1).

Shown here is a 1961 Topps card commemorating Rosen’s MVP campaign.

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Al Rosen’s performance in the 1954 All Star game was one of the greatest in the history of the Mid Summer Classic. The Indians star went 3-for-4 with two homers, five runs batted in, and two runs scored. The home run and RBI totals tied Ted Williams All Star game records that still stand today.

The American League topped the Nationals 11-9.

In the collection is this letter from NL President Warren Giles to All Star Dodger shortstop Pee Wee Reese. Giles writes, “It was a great show for the fans who were present and the millions who saw it on T.V. and the only thing to regret is that we lost.”

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In addition to his All Star playing career, Al Rosen was a respected baseball executive. The only man to earn an MVP and the Executive of the Year Award, Rosen served as president of the Yankees, Astros, and Giants.

George Steinbrenner hired Rosen as the President and CEO of the Yankees in 1978. His first year as keeper of the Bronx Zoo, Rosen often refereed the battle between the Yankee owner and skipper Billy Martin.

The season before New York beat the Dodgers in the ’77 World Series. When the Yankees stumbled through the first part of the ’78 season, Steinbrenner turned up the pressure on Martin.

Meanwhile, Martin battled with mercurial star Reggie Jackson. It all came to a head in July. After Reggie returned from a Martin-imposed 5-day suspension, Billy held court with the New York press.

Soon the subject turned to Steinbrenner and Jackson. Referring to Reggie and to Steinbrenner’s illegal contribution to Richard Nixon’s campaign, Martin told the NY media, “The two of them deserve each other. One’s a born liar; the other’s convicted.”

The next day Martin was forced to resign. Dick Howser took the reigns of the club for one game before Rosen turned to a former teammate for help. Bob Lemon took over the field duties and led the Yankees to their second straight World Series title.

Renown as one of the most difficult men to work for, Steinbrenner continued micromanaging the club. Rosen resigned on July 19, 1979.

Fifteen months later, the Houston Astros hired Rosen as president and general manager of the club. In Rosen’s first year, the Astros reached the playoffs. For the next four seasons Houston finished no higher than third. Rosen left the team late in the ’85 season. During his reign the Astros posted a 386-372 record.

This time Rosen was out of work for less than a month. The last-place Giants tabbed him as their president and GM in late September of ’85. By 1987 Rosen built San Francisco into a division winner. For his efforts he was chosen Executive of the Year.

In 1989 Rosen’s Giants were champions of the National League. They faced off against the Oakland Athletics in the Fall Classic. Before the start of Game 3, the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake struck halting the Series. Play resumed ten days later as the A’s completed a four-game sweep.

In the collection is this letter on Giants letterhead dated 16 days after the conclusion of the Series.

Rosen writes in part, “This was quite a season to win the pennant when nobody picked us; to have the earthquake then to be swept in four by the A’s. However there’s always next year.”

Rosen has signed his name at the bottom of the letter.