
John Montgomery Ward recorded 47 wins in 1879 and 164 over the course of the seven years he pithed. After switching to shortstop Ward also recorded over 2,000 hits making him on of the best two-way players in the history of the game. A near-impossible autograph to obtain, his signature is absent from the collection. However, a trio of pieces relating to Ward appear in the collection. Ward became part-owner and president of the Boston Braves in December, 1911. Less than a month after ascending to the position, Ward received this letter from Braves outfielder Al Kaiser regarding his salary. Addressed to Mr. J.M. Ward, President Boston Base Ball Co., the letter reads in part, “Your contract at hand + am sorry to say it is far from satisfactory. It will be impossible for me to sign for less than $1800.” The following two letters are also related to Kaiser’s salary including a file copy letter from Ward himself. Though Ward did not sign any of the three pieces, he undoubtedly held each in his hand in 1912.
Eighteen years before Ward’s 1964 induction to Cooperstown he was selected by the Hall for inclusion in the Honor Rolls of Baseball.