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Connie Mack began his managerial career in 1894. By the time he retired in 1950, his teams had won nine pennants and five World Series championships. In the collection is a handwritten letter from Mack from January 29, 1932. Mack responds to an autograph collector and neatly signs his name at the bottom.

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The autograph collector requested that Mack sign the envelope. Mack barely obliged, writing, “Your letter arrived with many others and as I opened each letter, destroyed the envelope.” Mack ends his letter with an apology, saying, “Sorry of course that wasn’t more careful in handling your letter.” Mack found a piece of the envelope, signed it, and returned it to the luck collector who also received his letter of apology.

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Mack responds to another autograph collector in this undated note, apparently written after the conclusion of a baseball season. “Boys are all away – will have to wait until next Spring for autographs, Mack”. At least the collector received this note from Mack which has  survived through the decades.

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Connnie Mack and Jimmie Foxx spent eleven seasons together in Philadelphia with the Athletics. In this photo the two share a conversation outside of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York. During their time together, the Athletics won 90 or more games six times in a season, capping it off with three AL championships and two World Series Titles. This photo, signed by Mack mirrors the next photo signed by Foxx.

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This example is signed by Double-X, Jimmie Foxx who appears to have a cigar in his hand for the occasion. Foxx enjoyed his greatest success while playing for Mack and the Philadelphia Athletics. During the 11-year run which included 8 years of 100 or more games, Foxx his .339 with 302 homers and 1,075 runs batted in. The Beast also won two consecutive American League Most Valuable Player Awards in 1932 and 1933, the latter coming in a Triple Crown season.

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When Bobby Shantz broke into the big leagues in 1949 he was under the command of legendary manager Connie Mack. The Tall Tactician held the reigns of his Philadelphia Athletics from their inception as one of the American League’s original 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”.

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An outstanding outfielder from 1929-1948, Roger “Doc” Cramer played his first seven big league seasons under the watchful eye of Connie Mack with the Philadelphia Athletics. During his time with the Athletics, Cramer hit .308 and led the league in at bats in each of his three seasons as a regular in Philadelphia. Here Cramer writes about the manager with the most wins in Major League Baseball history.

The handwritten letter reads, “Mr. Mack was probably the best manager baseball has ever had and also a great person. Like a father to all of us who played for him. I don’t have the words to tell what a great manager and great man he was to me. Sincerely, Roger M. Cramer”

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Dick Adams enjoyed an 11-year career as a professional baseball player. Connie Mack was Adams’ skipper when the outfielder debuted with the Philadelphia Athletics in 1947. By that time Mack was 84 years old, in his 50th year as a manager, and according to Adams in the above questionnaire “a nice gentleman past his prime as a baseball mgr.” Adams goes on to write that Mack didn’t know Adams and other players even after spending all of Spring Training and the first road trip with them.

Adams says that Hall of Fame outfielder Al Simmons, then 45 years old, was the one doing most of the managing. “If it wasn’t for Al, it would’ve really been a catastrophe.” The season was the first season since 1933 that Mack guided the Athletics to more wins than losses.

Adams filled out the questionnaire a month shy of his 96th birthday and six months before his death.