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As owner of the Cuban Stars and later the New York Cubans, Alex Pompez helped organize the first Negro League World Series in 1924. Known for his keen eye in evaluating talent, Pompez signed many Latin American players including Matin DiHigo and Minnie Minoso.

In 1948 he sensed the demise of the Negro Leagues he arranged for the New York Cubans to become a minor league affiliate of the New York Giants and became a scout for the team signing among others Orlando Cepeda.

The Giants eventually promoted him to Director of Latin American Operations and Director of International Scouting.

Offered here is a beautiful and scarce handwritten letter from Pompez on Giants letterhead. In it he thanks Giants secretary John Schwarz and mentions Carl Hubbell and Horace Stoneham by name.

Pompez typed signed letters can be found on the market for $3,500 and up. Full page handwritten letters are rarely available.

 

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In 2005, the Hall of Fame put together a special screening committee to find people associated with the Negro Leagues who were most deserving of induction.

An original list of 94 nominees was cut to 29 candidates and finally 17 new members of the Hall of Fame to be inducted. in 2006. The cover of the 2006 Hall of Fame yearbook shows those 17 and including Alex Pompez.

To date, there are 35 Baseball Hall of Famers whose primary contribution to baseball came in the Negro Leagues.