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In the collection is the lifetime pass to the Hall of Fame for Hall of Fame skipper Joe McCarthy. It’s easy to make the case for McCarthy as the greatest manager in the history of the Major Leagues.

The object of the game is to win and no manager won as often as McCarthy. His .615 regular-season winning percentage is the highest of all time as is his post-season winning percentage of .698.

Additionally, no big league manager has guided his teams to more World Series championships than the seven McCarthy piloted the Yankees to in the 1930’s and 40’s. Adding to his legacy is McCarthy’s status as the first manager to win pennants in both the American and National League.

When it comes to choosing the best skippers, McCarthy’s resumé puts him on the shortlist of men worthy of consideration.

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One of only a handful of successful big league managers never to have played in the Majors, Joe McCarthy toiled 15 years in the bushes before calling it quits as a player. By virtue of his minor league experience McCarthy was invited to join the Association of Professional Ball Players of America.

McCarthy dutifully paid his annual dues for 20 years until the association awarded him this lifetime membership card. Though McCarthy never fulfilled his big league aspirations as a player, he went on to become one of the most successful skippers of all time.

McCarthy’s winning percentage in both regular-season and post-season play remains the highest in Major League history. No manager has more World Series championships than McCarthy’s seven.

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Joe McCarthy was elected to the Hall of Fame based on his skill at piloting big league clubs. In the collection is a membership card vouching for his distinguished service to the automobile club of Buffalo, New York.

On the short list in the conversation of the greatest manager of all time, McCarthy’s winning percentage in both regular-season and post-season play remains the highest in big league history. No manager has more World Series championships than McCarthy’s seven.

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Hall of Fame manager Joe McCarthy spent 24 seasons at the helm of three different teams. Known primarily for his eight pennants and seven World Series titles with the Yankees, McCarthy also led the Cubs to a National League championship in 1929.

Much to the chagrin of McCarthy, Chicago unceremoniously dumped him late the next season. McCarthy’s revenge would come quickly and be swift. In this questionnaire he is asked to recall his most memorable baseball moment.

With 9 pennants and 7 World Series championships to draw upon, McCarthy was clear, “Winning first World Series in 1932 Beating the Cubs in four straight”. Also interesting is the skipper’s response when asked to identify his favorite baseball hero as a youngster. Perhaps foreshadowing his career choice, McCarthy chose the winningest manager in the history of baseball, Connie Mack.

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The sweet taste of World Series victory over the team that had fired him two years earlier was Joe McCarthy’s lasting memory and highlight. Just as he stated in the questionnaire above, his first Fall Classic triumph remained indelible for the seven-time World Champ.

In the collection is this oversized index card in which McCarthy writes, “Dear Gordon, My biggest thrill in base ball was in 1932. Winning my first World Series and beating the Cubs in four straight.”

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Though autographs of Joe McCarthy are quite common, examples of his signature on personal checks are seldom seen. In the collection is this check dated September 24, an important anniversary for both McCarthy, his team’s biggest star, and the Yankees strongest National League rival.

After leading the Cubs to a World Series berth in 1929, McCarthy guided them to a second place finish the following year. Late in the 1930 season the braintrust in Chicago forced McCarthy to resign when they announced he would not be offered a new contract. This event forever soured McCarthy to the Chicago franchise. The team and their skipper parted ways on September 24 — the same date on the check.

Interestingly McCarthy’s biggest star Babe Ruth is also tied to the date. On September 24, 1934 Ruth played his last game at Yankee Stadium. The final game at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field was also played on September 24 in 1957.

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Joe DiMaggio broke into the big leagues in 1936, immediately helping the Yankees and their manager Joe McCarthy to a World Series title. From ’36 until DiMaggio went into the military for World War II, McCarthy and the Yanks won six American League pennants, taking home baseball’s ultimate trophy five times. Shown here is a reprint card of DiMaggio and his New York skipper. McCarthy has signed his familiar autograph at the top of the card.

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The antique appearance of black and white Hall of Fame plaque postcards is always a draw for autograph collectors. In the collection is this example signed by Yankee skipper Joe McCarthy. A willing signer through the mail, McCarthy lived to be 90 years old before passing away in 1978. McCarthy’s seven World Series titles is tied for the most ever with Casey Stengel.

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Here’s something seldom seen: a signed tax return from a member of baseball’s Hall of Fame. Skipper Joe McCarthy penned his name at the bottom of this form 1040. The seven-time World Champion signed his full legal name, “Joseph V. McCarthy”. Filled out months before his 89th birthday, the document helps illuminate the consistency of the signature of the manager who holds the record for both regular-season and post-season winning percentage. Tax returns for Hall of Famers rarely reach the public.

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Dom DiMaggio played for manager Joe McCarthy for three seasons, making the All Star team under the former Yanks pilot two years in a row. In this handwritten letter, Joe DiMaggio younger brother writes, “In my estimation Joe McCarthy was an excellent manager and has to be rated with the best ever. Beyond that what else is there left to say?”. DiMaggio pens his flowing and unmistakable signature at the bottom of the letter.