Pee Wee Reese was just 21 years old when he played in his first All Star Game in 1942. At season’s end he enlisted into the Navy for the war effort. He spent the next three years in the Pacific Theater with the Seabees, the Navy’s Construction Battalion.
When he returned, Reese picked up right where he left off. In fact, Reese then reeled off nine consecutive All Star appearances.
In his final All Star season of 1954, Reese topped the .300 mark for the first time.
In the collection is this letter to the Brooklyn shortstop from NL President Warren Giles. Typed on National League letterhead, it is dated July 16, 1954, just three days after the Mid Summer Classic.
The letter reads in part, “It was a great show for the fans who were present and the millions who saw it on T.V. and the only thing to regret is that we lost. Possibly this is a good omen for a World Series victory for our league in the Fall.”
Reese’s Dodgers won 92 that year finishing second to Leo Durocher‘s Giants. The Lip’s Giants made good on Giles’ prognostication, sweeping the Indians in the Fall Classic.
Giles adds a handwritten postscript to the Dodger captain, “Sorry you weren’t up to par physically.”
Though Giles signed many documents in his position of league president, correspondence between two Hall of Famers remains highly desirable.