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While managing the Philadelphia Athletics in 1929, Connie Mack made a gutsy move that helped pave the way for a World Series title.

Mack’s squad was stacked with Hall of Fame talent.The offense boasted Jimmie Foxx, Al Simmons, and Mickey Cochrane. On the hill the Athletics were led by the league’s ERA and strikeout leader in Cooperstown’s Lefty Grove. For good measure, the #2 starter George Earnshaw topped the AL in wins with 24.

By August the team held a double-digit lead that never diminished.

The team was not without distractions. Aging pitcher Howard Ehmke seemed disinterested at times. On the backside of his career, the former 20-game winner needed more recovery time in between starts. In an August 7th start after more than two weeks rest, Ehmke imploded, allowing 8 earned runs in an 1 1/3 innings against the Yankees.

When the Athletics left for Detroit, Mack told Ehmke to remain behind. Four days later Mack write him a letter giving the pitcher an ultimatum – compete or leave the team.

Ehmke expressed his desire to stay with the club and pitch in the World Series. Together, the two men hatched an improbable plan. It resulted in what Bill James calls, “the most brilliant managerial stratagem in the history of baseball”.

A detailed account of the episode can be read by clicking here. It’s well worth the read.

Shown here is the first page of the historic four-page letter from Mack to Ehmke. In the following transcription the spelling and grammatical errors are Mack’s.

“Dear Howard,

“Have been giving you some thought since leaving Philadelphia and find myself still very much at a loss in regards to your pitching. You probley know as well as myself that all the clubs you have pitched for are under the same impression and that is you can pitch if you wanted too. And the players are of the same opinion. The impression among our players are that you could pitch if you worked one game a week and would then put your stuff on the ball otherwise they figure you are of no help to them. I have come to the conclusion that you figure too much you your soft stuff…”

The letter continues on page two in the next image.

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Shown here is page two of the historical letter from Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack to Howard Ehmke. Mack explains to his pitcher why he told him to stay home when the team went on the road.

Included here is the final sentence of the first page and the text from the second.

“I have come to the conclusion that you figure too much you your soft stuff and in my opinion you cannot get away with it without first showing plenty of speed and both [catchers Mickey] Cochrane + [Cy] Perkins say you have the speed when you let it go. My letting you remain at home was due to your poor game against New York having had at least fifteen days rest. Also had in mind that the players felt the same as I did – that you could have done better and for the good of all decided to let you remain at home. Am going to be frank in saying that you have me guessing regarding your pitching. Dislike to think that you are thinking wholey about saving your arm and giving no thought to the club.”

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Here is the transcription of the third of four pages in the letter between Philadelphia manager Connie Mack and his pitcher Howard Ehmke.

Mack details a plan for Ehmke to return in the form of an ultimatum.

“You have been pitching a good many years and the past few years you have not worked in many games so cannot see any club taking you on next season.

Have given you my straight opinions. Don’t say that its right as I am not a mind reader but want you to get the view of others + myself so you will not view your case for wholy your own views.

Can you help us by working one game a week? Are you sure you can? Must not be any half ways about it. It’s yes or no…”

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Five-time World Series winner Connie Mack does not mince words with Howard Ehmke in page four of the letter. The transcription below lays it on the line for the pitcher.

“If after giving the matter plenty of thought and your decision is that you can do as outlined and help the club by working one game a week, join the club at Cleveland. In case you feel that it’s better for the club and yourself to remain at home, do so and it’s O.K. with me.

With kind regards

Sincerely yours

Connie Mack”

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Baseball writers at mid-century asked Connie Mack to select players from each position to form his all-time team. Mack seemed like the perfect man for the job – his 11-year National League playing career started in 1886 then he managed from 1894-1950. He had literally seen it all.

Carstairs Whiskey, which was heavily advertised toward women decided to attract more men by creating an advertisement that included baseball. In the 1940s with the help of sportswriters and advisors, an all-time team was constructed then given Mack’s stamp of approval. Carstairs then produced banners that could be hung in liquor stores or in a den.

In the collection is this handwritten letter written and signed by Connie Mack. The letter is to Jack Lang, at the time was seven years into his career as a baseball writer. Lang covered the game for more than a half-century.

So respected was Lang that he ascended to the role of secretary-treasurer of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, a position he held from 1966 until 1988. In that capacity, Lang was responsible for tallying the writers’ votes for elections to the Hall of Fame and calling players who were elected. In all, he called 44 players spanning from Red Ruffing to Willie Stargell.

Mack writes to Lang about the Whiskey company’s all-time team to clarify. “…I did not pick (Pie) Traynor and George Sisler. The sport writers picked the team that you wrote…I did pick George Sisler at one time. I never have picked Traynor at third. I was in favor of Corcoran who was a Buffalo man.”

The letter is written by the 90-year old Mack in his final year of ownership of the Philadelphia Athletics on beautiful team letterhead of the era.

 

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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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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.

Here 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”.

Though the collector was unsuccessful in getting all the A’s signatures, he did get the autograph of their Hall of Fame manager.

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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.

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Connie Mack managed for a big-league record 53-years. All but three of the seasons came with the Philadelphia Athletics.

He retired in 1950 with 3,731 career victories. No other skipper has as many as 3,000 wins. He left the game as one of the most respected figures in baseball. With his stature, Mack was invited to many baseball tributes, especially in Philadelphia.

Shown here is a letter dated two days after the conclusion of the 1952 World Series. On team letterhead the Grand Old Man of Baseball writes to the chairman of the Phillies’ Robin Roberts Day Committee.

“You are paying tribute to a young man who is not only one of the greatest pitchers of his day, but who is a credit to the game of baseball in every way,” Mack writes.

“Robin Roberts is the ideal American athlete – – – a real leader who possesses the perfect blend of the will to win and the spirit of fair play and good sportsmanship.”

The right-hander was simply magnificent in 1952. Winner of 20 or more games in six consecutive seasons from 1950-1955, Roberts won a career-high 28 contests in ’52. He complimented the win total with a career low 2.59 earned run average.

During the ’52 campaign the 22-year old workhorse topped the NL in starts (37), complete games (30), innings (330). Roberts’ 8.6 WAR led all men – pitchers and position players – on the Senior Circuit.

This correspondence is dated a month and a day before Mack’s 90th birthday.