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Twice voted the Most Valuable Player of the National League, Carl Hubbell became known as the Giants “Meal Ticket”. Hubbell is perhaps best remembered for striking out Hall of Famers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons and Joe Cronin in succession in the 1934 All Star game.

Hubbell was much more than that. From 1929-1937 he averaged more than 20 wins per season. In that 9-year run his ERA was 2.79. The lefty pitched the Giants to three World Series appearances including the 1933 title. That year Hubbell was voted the league MVP.

Hubbell’s was truly dominant in 1936 and ’37. Over those two seasons The Meal Ticket reeled off 24 straight wins without a loss. His streak began on July 17, 1936 with a 5-hit shutout at Pittsburgh’s Forbes Field.

For nearly the next year Hubbell was unbeatable. The lefthander did not lose again until Fred Frankhouse of the Brooklyn Dodgers bested him on May 27, 1937.

Hubbell earned his second MVP Award in 1936 to become the first pitcher to win it twice.

Shown here is an original 1933 Goudey adorned with Hubbell’s signature.

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Cleveland Indians pitcher Mel Harder wrote this 3×5 card. He outlined the game’s top winners from 1928 through 1947.

Harder lists the top four pitchers of the period in terms of victories. Number one on the list Lefty Grove who posted 257 wins. Second and third on the list are former Yankee great Red Ruffing and Hubbell who both won 253 games.

As author of the card, Harder himself was fourth in the big leagues with 223 victories.

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The tradition of a Mid Summer Classic started in 1933. The first All Star Game was played in Chicago to help celebrate the city’s centennial. The Windy City also played host to the ’33 World’s Fair.

Carl Hubbell was chosen to be on the National League’s pitching staff. By the time the game was played on July 6th, Hubbell had 11 wins and a save. The Meal Ticket also had four shutouts and 11 complete games.

Hubbell pitched the final two innings of the All Star Game. He allowed one hit, one walk and no runs. He struck out one.

At the 1973 All Star Game Major League Baseball had a 40th anniversary celebration of the first All Star Game. All surviving players and coaches from the ’33 contest were invited.

Hubbell attended the gala and caught up with the likes of Earl Averill, Joe Cronin, Charlie Gehringer, and Lefty Grove.

In the collection is National League president Chub Feeney‘s invitation to Hank Aaron to participate in the 1973 All Star Game. Aaron played a big part in the National League’s victory.

In the third inning he slashed a single to left off of Minnesota’s Bert Blyleven. The hit drove in Cincinnati’s Joe Morgan to put the NL ahead to stay. It also gave Blyleven the loss in his first All Star appearance.

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Carl Hubbell broke into the big leagues in 1928 as a 10-game winner for the New York Giants. In his first 5 seasons he averaged 15 wins per year, winning as many as 18 twice.

Then in 1933 he had his breakout season. Hubbell was masterful, leading the NL in wins (23), ERA (1.66), and shutouts (10).

He also broke Ed Ruehlback’s 1908 National League record for consecutive scoreless innings. Hubbell tossed 45 1/3 straight frames without allowing a run.

The Meal Ticket kept the Senior Circuit mark until 1968 when Don Drysdale smashed it by twirling 58 2/3 innings in a row without allowing a tally.

Shown here is an autographed sheet commemorating Drysdale’s record six straight shutouts.

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George Selkirk played in six World Series during his nine-year big league career. His first trip to baseball’s biggest stage came in 1936.

Facing the National League champion New York Giants, Selkirk had the unenviable tasks of squaring off against NL MVP Carl Hubbell in Game 1.

Hubbell was simply dominant in the regular season posting a career-high and league-best 26 wins against just 6 losses. His 2.31 ERA likewise topped the National League. In more advanced measurements, Hubbell led the entire NL – all pitchers and hitters – with a 9.7 WAR. He also had the lowest WHIP (1.059) among all big league pitchers.

In that fateful Game 1 on September 30th, Selkirk stepped in against the screwball-throwing Hubbell. On an 0-1 pitch, Selkirk connected and drove the ball over the right field fence at New York’s Polo Grounds. In doing so he became the fifth player in major league history to slug a homer in his first Fall Classic at bat. Selkirk is also the first foreign-born performer to leave the yard in World Series play.

In the six-game tilt, Selkirk went 8-for-24 with four walks.

The image above shows a government postcard signed by Selkirk in 1951. Much more on Selkirk’s career can be found by clicking here.

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Carl Hubbell enjoyed a 16-year Hall of Fame career. The game’s first pitcher to earn two Most Valuable Player Awards, Hubbell retired in 1943.

Shortly after hanging up his spikes, Hubbell was named the Giants farm director by team owner Horace Stoneham. The former pitcher remained in the position until 1977.

For the next 11 years after that, Hubbell served the team as a scout. He scouted for the Giants until he passed away in 1988. In all he served the Giants organization for 60 years.

In the collection is this letter dated May 15, 1987. Here Baseball Commissioner Peter Ueberroth writes to a then-83 year old Hubbell.

Ueberroth writes, “…if there is any possibility of you participating as a coach or manager at any of the Equitable Old-Timer Games, just say the word. There are a lot of baseball fans out there that would take a great deal of pleasure to see you on the field one more time.”

The commissioner adds his signature at the bottom of the letter.

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Shown here is a signature of Carl Hubbell from after his playing career. As a member of the Hall of Fame, the New York Giants great was a regular target of autograph collectors.

Shown here is a 3×5 card signed by Hubbell. He writes, “If you will send a baseball to me I will be glad to autograph it for you”. Below that Hubbell has signed his name.

One can only imagine the thrill of receiving a ball autographed by the Meal Ticket.