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In this handwritten letter Ray Dandridge gives famed bat company Hillerich and Bradsby permission to produce two dozen of his bats. A brilliant fielder with a canon for an arm, Dandridge also hit for a high average.

Two years after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier Dandridge played for the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association, a minor league team for the New York Giants.

Already 36 years old, Dandy hit .362 with 144 hits and 64 RBI in only 99 games. For that he was selected as the league’s Rookie of the Year. The following season he was even more dominant and won the league’s MVP Award.

Looking back one would think that such a performance would lead to a big-league promotion to the Giants. Historians say there may have been an informal quota system that kept Dandridge and others from ever playing in the Majors.

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Personal checks, gone by the wayside for the most part were once upon a time a great way to secure an authentic autograph.

Shown here is a check drawn on the account of and signed by Raymond E. Dandridge. Drawn on January 6, 1984, the check was made out to Metropolitan Life Ins Co. for $160.90.

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Hall of Fame voters recognized Ray Dandridge as one of the greatest to play the game. The legendary Buck O’Neil also lists Dandridge as the third baseman on his All Time Negro League All Stars.

A quick glance down the list finds it peppered with other Hall of Fame players.