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A lifetime baseball man, Gabe Paul spent six decades in the game. His start came in 1920 as a batboy for the minor league Rochester Red Wings at age ten.

Eight years later Paul was hired by Warren Giles as the Red Wings’ publicity director before becoming their traveling secretary in 1934. In 1937 he was promoted to publicity director of the Red Wings’ parent team, the Cincinnati Reds.

Soon he worked his way up to GM and eventually team president in 1950. Paul was in that capacity when he penned this letter.

On January 29, 1952. Written on his personal letterhead from his residence on Vine Street, Paul thanks Mr. Corbly for the “wonderful party” that was held in Paul’s honor earlier in the evening.

Paul had success in Cincinnati, earning the Executive of the Year Award in 1956. He left the Reds in 1960 to become the first GM of the Houston Colt .45s. The team he built in Cincinnati won the pennant in ’61.

His stay in Houston was marred by clashes with owner Roy Hofheinz. Paul left to join the Indians in 1961. By the end of 1962 he wore many hats for the Indians. Paul was part-owner, team president, GM, and treasurer of the club.

In 1973 he sold his stake in the Indians and joined George Steinbrenner’s ownership group with the Yankees. As team president, Paul rebuilt the team in New York.

In a few short years acquired key pieces Chris Chambliss, Lou Piniella, Willie Randolph, and Bucky Dent. Paul also signed future Hall of Famers Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson.

For his work, Paul earned his second Executive of the Year Award in 1974. Two years later the Yankees won the pennant for the first time in a dozen years. Paul’s roster won it all in ’77.

Steinbrenner brought in Al Rosen as a senior executive late in 1977. The move diminished Paul’s authority. He left New York to rejoin the Indians in 1978. Paul’s presence did little to help the Tribe. They posted only two winning seasons during his second tenure.

Paul retired after the ’84 season.

The lifetime baseball man has appeared on the Veterans Committee ballot multiple times. His primary accomplishments coming as GM of the Steinbrenner Yankees.

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Gabe Paul spent parts of four decades with the Cincinnati franchise. As publicity director, general manager, and finally president of the Reds, Gabe Paul built quite a positive reputation with the Reds.

Once he ascended to General Manager and President of the Reds, Paul made 86 trades and won Major League Executive of the Year in 1956.

Shown here is the inside of a Christmas card Paul had made up during his time with the Reds. “Greetings and Best Wishes” says the card above Paul’s name printed in the same red font as the rest of the card. The team’s logo dates this card to some time between 1954-1960.

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The 1962 World Series between the Giants and the Yankees was a classic seven-game tilt between two proud franchises. Tied at three games apiece, the series came down to a winner-take-all Game 7.

In the bottom of the 9th inning the Yankees led 1-0 with the Giants clinging to their last chance. Willie McCovey came to the plate with Matty Alou on third and Willie Mays as the winning run in scoring position at second base with two out.

McCovey hit what he later claimed was the hardest hit ball he ever struck, a sinking liner snagged by New York second baseman Bobby Richardson.

In this letter Indians GM Gabe Paul writes to his Yankee counterpart Roy Hamey to congratulate him on winning the World Series.

On Indians letterhead the letter reads, “Congratulations on your victory in the World Series! I know how much you suffered through it — but when Richardson caught McCovey’s line drive, it was worth everything.”

Paul then signs his first name at the bottom of this historical letter.

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After receiving the congratulatory letter from Gabe Paul, Yankees general manager Roy Hamey sent a response a few days later. Shown here is a file copy of that letter.

Hamey writes to Paul in part, “The spectacular play ending the last Series game certainly demonstrated the fact that the Giants and the Yankees were as close a match as anyone could arrange.”

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The Cincinnati general manager from 1951-1960, Gabe Paul saw Warren Spahn pitch against the Reds for ten years. Shown here is a letter from Paul in his first year as Yankee GM in 1973.

He writes to Spahn, “Thought I would see you in New York to personally congratulate you on your election to the Hall of Fame. It is gratifying to know that it came so quickly, but why shouldn’t it.” Paul closes the letter by signing with his first name only.

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On October 22, 1974, Yankees general manager Gabe Paul engineered the game’s first swap of $100,000 players. The deal was a one-for-one trade of Bobby Bonds for Bobby Murcer.

On many levels, the deal made sense.

Bobby Bonds had his career year in 1973. The 27-year old outfielder came within one home run of becoming baseball’s first 40-homer/40-steal man. His 131 runs and 341 total bases led the NL; his 7.8 WAR was a career best. The Giants star earned a Gold Glove and finished third in MVP balloting.

He followed it up with a disappointing year in ’74.

Meanwhile in New York, Murcer stood as the highest-paid player in Yankee franchise history. From ’71-’73, he had a 160 OPS+ and averaged 6.6 WAR per season. Then in ’74 he slipped to a 106 OPS+ and a 1.1 WAR.

GM Paul figured a change of scenery might benefit both talented performers. Baseball’s first trade of $100,000 men was done.

Murcer never again regained form. After leaving San Francisco Bonds played for 7 teams in as many seasons before retiring in 1981.

In the collection is this index card signed in spring training by Bobby on March 30, 1973. Bobby was about to embark on his best year. He posted career-highs in homers, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+, runs and total bases. In the latter two categories he led the league. By the time the season ended he had a career-best 7.8 WAR.

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Gabe Paul joined a syndicate that bough the New York Yankees in 1973. The longtime baseball man assumed the club’s presidency and went to work.

It was a tumultuous time in the Big Apple as George Steinbrenner began his reign. Paul began retooling the roster and saw immediate results.

After posting a losing record in ’73, the team won 89 games and finished second in ’74. Paul was named the MLB Executive of the Year for the second time.

His work wasn’t finished. Paul traded for key pieces Chris Chambliss, Lou Piniella, Mickey Rivers, Willie Randolph and Bucky Dent.

In the middle of the 1975 Steinbrenner fired skipper Bill Virdon. Over the objections of his now-GM Gabe Paul, George hired the combustible Billy Martin as replacement.

In his first full season in 1976, Martin led the Yankees to their first American League pennant since 1964.

Before the 1977 season New York signed free-agents Catfish Hunter and former World Series MVP Reggie Jackson.

Paul often served as mediator between the egos of Steinbrenner, Billy, and Reggie. The club won 100 games and repeated as AL champs. In the World Series the Yankees split the first two games against the Dodgers at New York.

Martin’s club rebounded to win two of the next three to put the team on the brink of the title. In Game 6 Reggie hit a home run on three consecutive pitches off of three different Los Angeles hurlers.

In all he hit five homers to drive in eight runs. Reggie finished with a World Series record 25 total bases to become the first position player to earn two World Series MVP nods.

New York’s glory was restored with their first Fall Classic triumph in a quarter century. It was the only championship in Paul’s time in baseball.

“I think one of the biggest thrills I ever had was the ride up Broadway after we won the championship in ’77,” Paul said. “It was pouring rain and we were in open cars riding up Broadway. It was the liveliest crowd I ever saw.”

Paul left the Yankees at year end. The drama was too much to tolerate.

Shown here is a ticket to the deciding game in the Gabe Paul’s only Fall Classic triumph. It his autographed by World Series MVP Reggie Jackson. Mr. October adds the inscription, “Mr. October 3WS HRS”.

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Gabe Paul served Major League Baseball for decades. Even after he left the game, his legacy continued to expand. His son Gabe Paul Jr. followed in his footsteps and worked in the game for parts of five decades.

Paul Jr. served as traveling secretary for the Seattle Pilots in their first year of existence in 1969. When the team moved to Milwaukee the following season, Paul Jr. went with them.

During his 27 years with the franchise Paul wore many hats. He handled broadcast operations, yearbook and program sales, and stadium operations.

When the Brewers decided to build a new stadium, Paul helped design Miller Park and led in the strategic planning of its construction. Along the way he wrote the program for the architects and the lease.

From 1997-2005 Paul served as the executive directory of the Virginia Baseball Stadium Authority. In that role he worked to bring big league baseball to the area. Though MLB did not expand to Virginia, the Montreal Expos did relocate to Washington DC.

Though he had big shoes to fill after the long and storied career of his father, Gabe Paul Jr. had a long and prosperous career in baseball.

Shown here is a check drawn on the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club account signed by Paul in 1977.