Bill Dickey
| Birthdate | 6/6/1907 |
| Death Date | 11/12/1993 |
| Debut Year | 1928 |
| Year of Induction | 1954 |
| Teams | Yankees |
| Position | Catcher |
As a player and a Yankee manager and coach, 11-time All Star Bill Dickey helped teams win fourteen World Series Championships.
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Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey made his MLB debut on 8/15/1928
Hall of Fame catcher Bill Dickey made his MLB debut on 8/15/1928
Bill Dickey was barely old enough to drink when he made his big league debut in 1928. Seventy days past his 21st birthday, Dickey filled in for Yankee backstop Benny Bengough and became a major leaguer on August 15, 1928. Though he played in just 10 games that year, Dickey broke out as a star the following season.
In his first full year of 1929, Dickey hit .324. That began a string of six straight seasons above the .300 mark. Dickey hit ..320 over his first 11 full seasons, topping the mark in ten of those years. Dickey drove in 100 or more runs in each of the last four years of the 1930s and hit .313 in his 17-year big league career.
An outstanding defensive player, Dickey finished in the top three in fielding percentage eight times, leading the AL four times. The Hall of Fame catcher led AL catchers in caught-stealing percentage three times and finished second in three seasons.
The Yankee backstop played in ten of the first eleven All Star games and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1954.
In the collection is this letter signed by American League President William Harridge. The AL chief writes to fellow Hall of Fame executive Ed Barrow regarding the contract status of nine Yankee players. Among the nine is Bill Dickey.
Dated August 16, 1928, the day after Dickey’s debut, the letter lists the Yankees’ nine optional players. Next to Dickey’s name is a handwritten notation of his callup on August 6. This is a result of the file copy shown in the next image.
Nearly a century old, this correspondence between two members of the Hall of Fame traces to the start of Dickey’s career.
The Yankees responded to Harridge’s letter two days later to clarify Dickey's status
The Yankees responded to Harridge’s letter two days later to clarify Dickey's status
This file copy is a response to William Harridge’s letter seen in the previous image. Here Yankee executive Ed Barrow clarifies a mistake found in Harridge’s letter.
The correspondence reads, “Replying to your letter of Aug. 16 beg to advise that player William Dickey was recalled from the Little Rock Club on August 6th. A refund of the option money to Little Rock was mailed to Commissioner Landis.”
This file copy resulted in the handwritten notation next to Dickey’s name on the previous letter.
Original 1933 Goudey adorned with a vintage Bill Dickey autograph
Original 1933 Goudey adorned with a vintage Bill Dickey autograph
Bill Dickey had just completed his 1932 season before Goudey Gum Company came out with their 1933 set. Dickey won the first of his seven World Series rings with New York in ’32, hitting .438 — 7-for-16 with 4 runs batted in — in the four-game sweep of the Chicago Cubs. Dickey has signed this decades-old cardboard.
They Yankee catcher from 1928-1943 and again in 1946, Dickey is in the discussion for best backstop ever. Especially significant is his run from 1936-1939 in which he posted at least 20 homers, 100 RBI, and a .300 average each season for the New York teams that won four straight World Series titles.
Dickey hit .302 with a .403 on-base percentage in 1939, the last time he reached either mark
Dickey hit .302 with a .403 on-base percentage in 1939, the last time he reached either mark
The 1939 season would be kind to Dickey as he hit .302 with a .403 on-base percentage, 24 homers and 105 RBI. His Yankees were again crowned World Champion of baseball.
Though he would make five more All Star teams, his production declined. After the ’39 campaign Dickey never again had a season with a .300 average or .400 OBP. From 1940 until the end of his career, he never reached doubled figures in homers.
Shown here is Dickey’s life membership to his hometown Boys Club of Little Rock, Arkansas. This plaque reads, “Little Rock boys Club Honorary Life Membership Issue to Bill Dickey on behalf of the Boys of Little Rock as a token of their esteem and admiration February 8th, 1939.”
Dickey appeared as himself in the Lou Gehrig biopic Pride of the Yankees
Dickey appeared as himself in the Lou Gehrig biopic Pride of the Yankees
Bill Dickey and Lou Gehrig were Yankee teammates for 12 years. It was natural that the producers of Pride of the Yankees would enlist Dickey’s help to give the movie an authentic feel. To do so, the moviemakers employed sports agent Christy Walsh as a liaison to gain the cooperation of many baseball figures, among them the Yankee catcher.
In this letter dated January 27, 1942, Walsh writes that he is, “very happy to say that Bill Dickey has finally agreed to come out and appear in the Lou Gehrig picture. This is not yet to be announced.”
“…also consult Mrs. Gehrig by telephone to see if she if she has any reminiscence or suggestions regarding Dickey, particularly regarding his friendship and relationship with Lou.”
Walsh also writes of the arrival of Babe Ruth. “We are trying to have Bill arrive in Hollywood a few days before Babe arrives because, naturally Babe carries more news importance and we don’t want him to take the edge off of Dickey’s arrival story. This, of course, has to be handled tactfully because I don’t want to offend Bill Dickey.”
Dickey first appears on the film in a speaking part, trading laughs with the Bambino in this Academy Award-winning film. Later in the decade he would also appear as himself in The Stratton Story which likewise earned an Oscar. By doing so, Dickey remains the only Major League player to be in two Academy Award-winning baseball films.
The catcher also appeared "The Stratton Story" - his second Academy Award-winning film
The catcher also appeared "The Stratton Story" - his second Academy Award-winning film
Bill Dickey had a speaking part in The Pride of the Yankees, appearing as himself in the Academy Award-wining Lou Gehrig biopic. In 1948 he he appeared in another Oscar winning film, The Stratton Story.
Based on the life and times of former American League All Star, White Sox pitcher Monty Stratton, the film was a box-office success, earning more than $1 million.
In the collection is this contract between MGM and Dickey concerning the Yankee catcher’s appearance in Oscar-winning film. The Hall of Fame catcher has signed the bottom left portion of the contract.
Bill Dickey remains the only Major League player to be in two Academy Award-winning baseball films.
Dickey remained close to the Yankee organization throughout his life
Dickey remained close to the Yankee organization throughout his life
A catcher in 11 of the first 12 All Star games, Bill Dickey enjoyed a 17-year big league career. With seven World Series rings as a player, Dickey was a mainstay in the Yankee lineup during the 1930s and early 40s.
In this letter Dickey responds to fellow Hall of Famer Lee MacPhail’s invitation to the Yankee Old Timer’s game. The Yankees Executive VP and general manager, MacPhail was in charge of assembling the roster of the event for the retired players.
Here Dickey writes in ipart, “Thank you for your letter and invitation. I am really going to try to be there this year.”
The 1970 Yankee team finished second in the American League East. Dickey was rooting for more as evidenced by his closing line in the letter dated April 27, 1970.
“Hope the boys get started and win some ball games.” Dickey has added his somewhat ornate signature to the bottom of the letter.
