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Under JG Taylor Spink’s guidance as publisher, The Sporting News became known as the Bible of Baseball. In charge of TSN from 1914 until his death in 1962, Spink was so well respected that he earned the nickname, “Mr. Baseball”.

In 1962 the Baseball Hall of Fame created The JG Taylor Spink Award to honor baseball writers for meritorious contributions to baseball writing. The highest honor a baseball writer can earn, the award is presented during induction weekend each summer by the President of the Baseball Writers Association of America. Spink himself was the first recipient of the award the summer before he died.

During both World Wars, it was Spink’s idea and decision to send the his publication to our troops overseas. Spink’s integrity, relationships, and army of reporters were invaluable during the Black Sox scandal. The Official Baseball Guide came under Spinks control when he took over publication in the 1940s. Simply put, he was a titan of the game when it was the unifying force in America.

In the collection is a pair of letters dated a month apart in 1945 to Lieutenant Andy Roach. The first of which, seen above was written on April 17, 1945 – the say day as one-armed outfielder Pete Gray’s Major League debut. Spink let the lieutenant know a complimentary copy of TSN along with, “our Special Chesterfield Edition made possible by the makers of Chesterfield Cigarettes. A copy of our Guide is likewise going to you.”

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After Lieutenant Roach received the complimentary publications that Spink sent, Roach apparently sent the journalism giant a thank-you note. In this letter dated May 16, 1945, a month after the first, Spink assures Roach that he’ll be taken care of. Spink writes, “If you should wish any additional copies or any of the Guide, let me know.”.

This correspondence comes as no surprise as Spink was quite a supporter of the military, spearheading TSN’s policy of sending the publication to troops overseas during the two World Wars.

JG Taylor Spink has added his flamboyant signature at the bottom of the page.

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The Sporting News often enlisted the help of active players and other baseball men in gathering information and opinions on baseball. In this letter, 19-century shortstop and perennial Veterans Committee candidate Bad Bill Dahlen identifies his two choices for greatest players ever. In doing so, Dahlen chooses two men whose careers overlapped with his own. The shortstop writes,

“Honus Wagner & Ty Cobb

Honus’s long time service in baseball and his ability to do anything a little better than anyone else gives him the call with me. As to Cobb I never seen him play but few games but his records speak for him.

Williams J. Dahlen”

Though he lived to age 79, Dahlen’s signature is quite scarce by virtue of his 1891 debut year. It’s difficult to imagine a more desirable example of his signature.

Notice the letterhead listing JG Taylor Spink as the General Manager of the national sports weekly and his father Charles C. Spink as the founder.