---

The youngest umpire to call a World Series game at just 25 years old, Evans had a long and illustrious career as an MLB arbiter. After studying law at Cornell University, Evans went on to become an accomplished sportswriter at the same time he was an umpire. After hanging up his spikes he became a front office executive for three major league teams. It was in this capacity that Evans writes this letter to Hall of Fame pitcher Hal Newhouser.

In the letter Evans alludes to the three outstanding seasons Newhouser completed from 1944-1946. “Those three sensational years enabled you to get from me $250,000 over a four year period an average of $62,500. You can’t laugh those figures off, Hal.”

Evans originally offered the two-time MVP $42,000 but encloses a new contract offering $45,000 which Newhouser would accept.

Inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1973, Evans was first recognized in Cooperstown in 1946 when he was selected to the “Honor Rolls of Baseball“.

---

Hal Newhouser rejected Evans’ first offer of $42,000. In this letter, Evans ups the ante by $3,000. Evans writes, “That is more money than any other player on the Detroit Club receives. I feel it will be more money than any other pitcher in the American or National League will receive this year.” Evans goes on to encourage Newhouser to perform well to merit a raise, saying in part, “I’m sure if you have an exceptional year in 1951, and it is my sincerest hope you have one of your best seasons, you will find the Detroit Club very happy to reward such a superlative performance.”

Newhouser went 6-6 with a 3.92 ERA in ’51 and received an $11,000 pay cut for the following season.

---

The first page of the Uniform Player’s Contract calls for Hal Newhouser to make $45,000 for the 1951 season. In it is the “Loyalty Clause” which states, “The player agrees to perform his services hereunder diligently and faithfully, to keep himself in first-class physical condition,and to obey the Club’s training rules, and pledges himself to the American public, and to the Club to conform to high standards of personal conduct, fair play, and good sportsmanship.”

---

The second page of Hal Newhouser’s deal stipulates that the club may terminate the contract if the player shall at any time, “fail, refuse, or neglect to conform his personal conduct of good citizenship and good sportsmanship, or keep himself in first class condition.” It also puts forth that the agreement can be ended if the player fails, “to exhibit sufficient skill or competitive ability to qualify or continue as a member of the Club’s team.”

---

The third page of the standard four-page document holds the signature of Billy Evans in his position as General Manager of the Detroit Baseball Company. By virtue of his long career and of his many seasons in front offices of teams, Evans’ signature is not particularly rare. However his induction to Cooperstown 17 years after his 1956 death make his a much sought after signature. As this was Hal Newhouser’s personal copy, there are no additional signatures beyond that of Evans. Generally the club sent two contracts, one for the player to sign and return, the other for the player’s personal reference.

 

---

The final page of the contract contains more legal stipulations for both the pitcher and the team. Hal Newhouser would never again post a double-digit win total in any of his five remaining seasons. From 1951 until his retirement in 1955, Prince Hal won only 22 games against 18 losses. The 1951 season would be Evans’ last as Detroit GM. Twenty-two years later Evans would be given baseball’s highest honor when he was voted into the Hall of Fame.

---

In this handwritten letter, Jocko Conlan has high praise for fellow Hall of Famers Bill Klem and Billy Evans.

Conlan got his start as an umpire after his playing career ended when the National League offered him a job for the 1941 season. Bill Klem was the supervisor of the NL arbiters at the time. Klem quickly took Conlan under his wing becoming his mentor and friend.

In the letter Conlan writes, “I’m glad you put me in with Klem whom I broke in with. He was the greatest of us all.”

Conlan also mentions Billy Evans, another Cooperstown umpire. “Evans was great and a fine man.”

Conlan enjoyed a 25-year umpiring career, officiating five World Series, six All Star games, and four NL playoffs.

At the start of the letter, Conlan talks about his nemesis Leo Durocher in content surrounding their shin-kicking incident.