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Lou Gehrig and Waite Hoyt were teammates from 1923-1930. Over those eight years Hoyt saw a terrific transformation of the Iron Horse from a man of “complete unsophistication” with a “mother complex” to a man “assigned by the Supreme Power to fulfill a definite mission on earth”. The entire content of the letter reveals Hoyt’s awe and admiration of Gehrig. Truly incredible content worth reading is in this correspondence between two members of the Hall of Fame.

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In the second page of this outstanding letter from Waite Hoyt about Lou Gehrig, Hoyt reaffirms his stance with a strong conclusion, “I believe I have outlined the aura in which he played during his wonderful career, both from his original naiveté, to his unblemished peak of accomplishment. I have done my part for you here and hope that it in some way satisfies.” Hoyt has signed in blue ink below at the bottom of the letter.

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Best remembered for ten years, six AL pennants, and three World Series triumphs with the Yankees, Waite Hoyt suited up for six teams during his 21-year big league career. Shown here is a 1933 Goudey baseball card of Hoyt with the Pirates, a team for whom he won 35 games in five years. A two-time 20-game winner, Hoyt also won 19 games in two seasons and had one season each with winning totals of 18, 17, 16, 15. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1969.

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In this two-page letter with stunning content, Waite Hoyt writes about his greatest thrills. The Hall of Fame pitcher goes into great detail in sharing four stories in chronological order. Hoyt shares, “At the age of 15 in the summer of 1915 I signed a contract with John McGraw and the New York Giants. The YOUNGEST BOY TO EVER SIGN A MAJOR LEAGUE CONTRACT UP UNTIL THAT TIME…”

He goes on to to describe what it was like to be a teenager in the deadball era.

The second highlight Hoyt shares came in his first big league start in 1919 while playing for Red Sox skipper Ed Barrow. Hoyt pitched a 12-inning complete game against Hugh Jennings‘ Detroit Tigers, allowing just one run against a lineup that included Ty Cobb, Bobby Veach, and Harry Heilmann.

Hoyt next lists his experience in the 1921 World Series, the first of seven Fall Classics in which he’d appear. He threw three complete games and allowed only two runs, both unearned. Hoyt writes that it was, “…a feat that tied Christy Mathewson‘s record of 0 earned runs in three complete world series game [sic].”

The second page is shown in the next image.

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In page two of the letter, Hoyt gives specifics about learning of his election to the Hall of Fame as well as the induction ceremony itself.

Dayton Ohio Journal sports editor Ritter Collett first informed Hoyt of his election via phone.

“The impact was so great it shook my nervous system to the point I could not continue answering questions of the caller…I had to tell him I was shaking all over and crying…”

Later that summer Hoyt was inducted into Cooperstown with Stan Musial, Roy Campanella, and Stan Coveleski.

“I have to believe, that reaching that plateau of my chosen profession — my life’s work — the highest peak possible, it was also the highest peak of my baseball thrills.”

The entirety of the letter provides insight into a Hall of Fame career from beginning to end.

 

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One of the foremost experts on Babe Ruth, Waite Hoyt was in the Bambino’s inner circle of friends. In this letter, Hoyt responds to a question about the comparison between Ruth and Hank Aaron, “Like Ruth vs. Aaron. No comparison, but you simply cannot make that clear to the moderns.” Rife with typographical errors, the letter is closed with Hoyt’s recognition of the perils of the typewriter, “Forgive the typing. I rush and my fingers hit every key.”

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Hall of Fame pitcher Waite Hoyt ended his 21-year playing career pitching in Brooklyn in 1937 and 1938. In this handwritten letter he answers a fan’s question about uniforms. “Yes! The Dodgers did wear green trimmed uniforms in 1937 and green and white striped stockings.” Hoyt then draws a picture of a striped stocked adding the words, “Like this”.