One of only ten umpires inducted into the Hall of Fame, Tom Connolly joined Bill Klem as the first two so honored in 1953. Both arbiters were also selected for the Hall’s Honor Rolls of Baseball seven years earlier. Cooperstown waited 20 years until the next arbiter earned his plaque when Billy Evans went to the Hall in 1973. Shown here is a 3×5 cards neatly signed, “With all good wishes Thomas H. Connolly”.

By virtue of his status as a member of the Hall of Fame, Harry Hooper received a great deal of fan mail. Shown here is Hooper’s response to a request to identify his all-time team among other questions. At the bottom of the right side Hooper writes that Hall of Famer Tom Connolly is his pick as the all-time umpire. That’s high praise from one Cooperstown man to another.

A big leaguer from 1909-1925, Hooper teamed with Duffy Lewis and Tris Speaker to form the “Golden Outfield” of the Boston Red Sox. Playing together from 1910-1915, the trio is considered among the greatest defensive outfields ever.

Take a look at the flycatcher’s choices for outfield play. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hooper declares that outfield mates Lewis and Speaker make the cut in left and center fields. What does Hooper write for his choice for right field? Unable to pencil in his own name, Hooper jots down, “Right – modesty will not permit”.

For more of Hooper’s opinions on baseball, click here.

The previous letter in which Harry Hooper identified Tom Connolly as his choice as the umpire on his all-time team arrived in this envelope. Notice Hooper’s signature in the return address portion. The question of his all time team was one of only 8 queries that Hooper wrote about. His insightful reflections about the Black Sox scandal, the feeling of being a Hall of Famer, as well as how he wants to be remembered can be seen on Hooper’s page by clicking here.

Handwritten letters from men who played more than 100 years ago remain highly valued by collectors and fans alike.