American League MVP in 1952, Bobby Shantz enjoyed an illustrious big league career. In the collection is this handwritten letter from the All Star pitcher in which he thanks a fan for offering a baseball glove to him. Shantz writes, “I really don’t have any use for a baseball glove anymore but I appreciate your letter asking me if I’d like to have it. If you would send it to me, I’d sign it and return it to you if you’d want me to do that.”

Shantz has penned the letter on “American Base Ball club of Philadelphia” letterhead that denotes the address of the team at “Twenty-first street and Lehigh Avenue”. The next two images show that very glove autographed by the man who began his big league career in 1949.

Here is the glove to which Bobby Shantz refers in his letter. The 16-year Major Leaguer has signed the leather, personalizing it to former high school phenom Will Smiley. After the Dodgers spearheaded the quarter-million dollar renovation of the baseball field where Jackie Robinson played high school, Smiley pitched the first no-hitter as a 10th grader and was named the Player of the Week for the Western Region of America by USA Baseball/MaxPreps.

The glove changed hands from one pitcher to another.

The inside of the glove bears a facsimile signature of Bobby Shantz as shown in the image above. Shantz started his professional pitching career in 1948 for the Single-A affiliate of Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics.

The following season he made the jump to the big leagues where he pitched for until 1964.

The 1975 Topps baseball card set featured a tribute to the 25 years the company had been in business. Topps produced cards depicting Most Valuable Players from the previous quarter century.

In the collection is one such card adorned with the autographs of the 1952 MVPs, Bobby Shantz of the American League and Hank Sauer of the National League.

Bobby Shantz’s first big league manager was the legendary Connie Mack. The Tall Tactician helmed the Philadelphia Athletics from 1901-1950. Shantz played from Mack in the Hall of Famer’s final two seasons as a big league manager.

By the time Shantz made the A’s roster, Mack was 86 years old. In the letter shown here, Shantz explains what it was like to play for the octogenarian

“I played for Mr. Mack in 1949 and 1950. At that time he was in his late 80s and was beginning to get a little senile, but was a fine gentleman. He really couldn’t handle the club but his son Earle took over duties as manager and did a good job.

“Everyone on the club had great respect for Mr. Mack and was loved by all of us.”

Shantz is still alive today at 97 years old. It’s interesting to think that a man roaming the earth in 2023 played big league baseball for a manager born in 1862 in the midst of the US Civil War.

Bobby Shantz played for Connie Mack in the final two seasons of Mack’s run as a major league manager. The Tall Tactician held the reigns of his Philadelphia Athletics from their inception as one of the American League’s initial franchises in 1901 until 1950.

Two years after Mack retired as the team’s skipper Shantz went 24-7 with a 2.48 ERA to earn AL MVP honors. The diminutive southpaw autographed this picture with Mr. Mack and added the description, “1952 A.L. M.V.P.. Me + Connie”.

Despite a diminutive 5’6″ 139-pound frame, Bobby Shantz loomed large in Major League Baseball for 16 seasons. Signed by Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics before the 1948 season, Shantz played for 7 big league teams.

Along the way, Shantz filled his trophy case. In 1951 the lefty made the first of his three All Star Games. The following season he led the league in wins (24), WHIP, walks per nine innings, and strikeout-to-walk-ratio. Baseball Writers rewarded Shants with the 1952 American League MVP Award.

He led the league in ERA in 1957. That season was his final all-star appearance and the first of eight Gold Glove Awards. Shantz was a member of two Yankee American League championship teams.

In the collection is the 1954 Topps baseball card autographed by Philadelphia Athletics pitcher Bobby Shantz.

The 1955 Bowman baseball card set remains iconic in part because of their “Color TV” design. In the collection is a pair cards from that Bowman production, each with the signature of Bobby Shantz.

The card on top is Shantz’ regular-issue card while the one below shows Bobby and his younger but taller brother Billy. Both Shantz brothers broke into the big leagues with Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics. Though Bobby enjoyed a 16-year career as Major League pitcher, Billy had a stint that encompassed 131 games in parts of three big league seasons.

In the collection is this pair of horizontal baseball cards of Bobby Shantz signed by the 1952 American League Most Valuable Player. Though Shantz enjoyed his greatest success with Connie Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics, the cards show the hurler later in his career with as a Yankee.

Shantz pitched for New York from 1957-1960 compiling a 30-18 record and a 2.73 earned run average. In fact he led the AL in ERA his first year with the Yanks when he recorded a 2.45 mark with a 11-5 win-loss record.

That 1957 season was also Shantz’ last appearance on an All Star game roster. The card on the bottom shows Shantz with Lou Burdette of the Milwaukee Braves as “Series Hurling Rivals”. The pair started Game 2 of the ’57 Series with Shantz taking the loss in a 4-2 Milwaukee victory.

The card showing Shantz by himself is from the 1960 Topps set, the same year Shantz pitched in his second and final World Series with the Yankees. Shantz has signed both cards in blue sharpie.

A willing signer through autograph requests through the mail, Bobby Shantz signed this 3×5 index card and inscribed it with some of his career highlights.

One glance at the card reveals an outstanding big league career. “1952 MVP”, “3 All Star Games”, “3 World Series”, “A.L. Leader ERA, 1957 2.45”.