Roy Sievers
| Birthdate | 11/18/1926 |
| Death Date | 4/3/2017 |
| Debut Year | 1949 |
| Year of Induction | |
| Teams | Browns, Senators, White Sox |
| Positions | First Base, Left Field |
The first American League Rookie of the Year, Roy Sievers was a five-time All Star who led the junior circuit in homers, RBI and total bases in 1957.
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Contract for autographed souvenir baseball signed by Roy Sievers a month before his MLB debut
Contract for autographed souvenir baseball signed by Roy Sievers a month before his MLB debut
Roy Sievers burst on the big league scene in 1949. He hit .306 with 16 homers and 91 RBI on his way to being the first American Leaguer to win the Rookie of the Year Award.
On March 15th of ’49, more than a month before his April 21st debut, Sievers signed this contract. It calls for his signature to souvenir baseballs with the stamped autographs of the team. In return the slugger gained a whopping one cent per ball sold in the souvenir stands.
Sievers went on to enjoy a 17-year big league career in which he made four All Star teams and belted 318 homers. His finest season came in 1957 with the Senators when he led the league in homers (42), RBI (114), and total bases (331).
Roy Sievers writes about the autoball contract and winning the Rookie of the Year
Roy Sievers writes about the autoball contract and winning the Rookie of the Year
In the collection is this letter handwritten by Roy Sievers. The former outfielder and first baseman expresses thanks for seeing the 1949 autoball contract.
He writes, “That was big money 1¢ for each ball sold. Didn’t make much money that year for sure.”
Sievers reminisces about his first big league season and reflects on his career. “1949 was a good year for me winning Rookie of the Year in the American League and being the 1st one. Had a very wonderful career, 18 years – some ups and downs – still get a kick out of putting the uniform on…”
The scan shows the letter’s envelope at the bottom with a post mark from Saint Louis, Mo., on May 8, 1999. Sievers’ return address is on the upper left corner.
Two memorable Topps cards from 1959 autographed by Roy Sievers
Two memorable Topps cards from 1959 autographed by Roy Sievers
Roy Sievers appeared on two special cards from the 1959 Topps set that appear here, autographed by the slugger. On the left is #566, printed to commemorate Sievers making American League’s 1959 All Star team, his third appearance to the Mid-Summer Classic in four years.
On the right is a “Baseball Thrills” card proclaiming, “Sievers sets homer mark”. Sievers set a new Senators single-season team record for home runs in each of his first four years with the club. He hit 24, 25, 29 and 42 in succession despite playing his Senators home games in cavernous Griffith Stadium.
Both cards are signed boldly by Sievers.
Roy Sievers' 180 home runs for the Washington Senators are the most in the their 60-year history
Roy Sievers' 180 home runs for the Washington Senators are the most in the their 60-year history
Roy Sievers’ six seasons with the Washington Senators featured great production. Each year he slammed at least 20 homers, highlighted by a league-leading 42 in 1957. By the time he left the nation’s capital in 1959, his 180 home runs were the most in Senators history.
The Senators became the Twins in the 1962 season, leaving Sievers as the Washington record-holder.
Shown here is a letter from the Senators/Twins franchise leader in home runs, Harmon Killebrew. He hit 573 homers overall, 84 for the Senators, 475 for the Twins, and 14 for the Kansas City Royals. His his 559 for the Twins franchise is the most in their history.
The letter is dated January 16, 1984, just one week after he received news of his election.
Killebrew writes to Jack Lange, the secretary-treasurer of the Baseball Writers. Lange was the man tasked with informing Killebrew of the writers’ election.
Killebrew writes in part, “What a thrill to hear these words from you last week…It is the greatest thrill of my life and we look forward to being with you and the rest of my friends along with Don Drysdale and Luis Aparicio on August 12.”
The slugger signed his name at the bottom of the letter.
Two days after Bud Selig's statue outside of Miller Park was unveiled, he wrote to Sievers
Two days after Bud Selig's statue outside of Miller Park was unveiled, he wrote to Sievers
On August 24, 2010 the Milwaukee Brewers unveiled a statue of Bud Selig at Miller Park. He received an outpouring of affection. One of the congratulatory wishes was from former Rookie of the Year Roy Sievers.
In this letter dated August 26, 2010, Commissioner Selig writes to Sievers. “Thank you for your wonderfully thoughtful letter…I must tell you how well I remember your wonderful career. I know you had some great years and obviously, I was a great baseball fan during your entire career. I really appreciate the sincerity of your letter. It’s clear to me that your love for our great game is still burning brightly…”
Selig who was 14 years old when Sievers made his MLB debut, signs the letter boldly at the bottom.
Another letter to Roy Sievers from the commissioner seven days after Selig statue unveiling
Another letter to Roy Sievers from the commissioner seven days after Selig statue unveiling
Seven days after the unveiling of a statue bearing his likeness outside of Miller Park, Bud Selig sent this letter to former home run champion Roy Sievers.
Dated August 31, 2010, the letter reads in part, “Dear Roy, Just a short note to thank you for the wonderful card of congratulations which you sent to me. It was a great day with extraordinary emotion and I was really honored to have all of my players back to celebrate with us.”
Thanks for publishing that letter. Sievers’ nickname was “squirrel.” A squirrel was a player who did strange things. I’m not aware of Sievers ever doing anything flakey, so maybe I’m missing something.
Roy got the nickname in High School. He was always practicing in the batting cage. Batting cage, squirrel cage, as the boys referred to it at that time. He became known as The Squirrel. In retirement, Roy would play Indian ball with his brother and son at Moline School in St. Louis. Also playing with Roy was my father and other men who had played ball with or against him during his high school days. I never missed a Saturday as a kid.