Auction Item Details
Lot 2z
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Lot Number: 2z
Description: 1910 Mordecai Brown and Orval Overall autographed letter with significant content and related telegram. September 16, 1910 handwritten (10) page letter by Orval Overall to D. A. Fletcher on "Hotel Somerset" stationery. Reads in part, "All the members of our club who have received your check and signed the contract will stick with you to the end...I want to tell you on behalf of the other Cubs Brown, Kling, Evers, Hoffman, and myself, that if you are sincere in your efforts (and we believe you are) that you can depend on us absolutely. We are all tired of the persecutions we have been subjected to by organized baseball. It is to one sided and in my opinion their disposition as hogs will in time ruin a good thing for them. They are not satisfied with fifty percent a year for their money they want a hundred percent and the players who make that for them haven't a chance in the world if they have to depend on baseball for their living. The drawing cards and all alike have and must take what they can get, and never in their career as a player do they have a chance to dispose of their services themselves...My idea is that it wouldn't be a bad scheme to limit the reserve clause to three or five years and in that way a player some time during his career will become a free agent and then he can have the pleasure of managing his own affairs...Baseball is on the verge of a big fight and a new major league well backed will save all that trouble. There is plenty room for another one and its only a matter of time until it comes. Baseball is here to stay that is a certainty...we want you to understand that we are with you and that you have our combined support." Signed at the close, "Orval Overall" with "Mordecai Brown" signing just below. Light consistent age toning throughout with several pages displaying slightly more pronounced blemish. All have small hole/chip at top where they were previously bound together. Handwriting/signature(s) rate 8/9 out of 10. An incredibly significant letter written by a key member of one of the dominant teams of the era and co-signed by one of the most important pitchers of All-Time. Includes letter of provenance, related telegram, and auction LOA from JSA: Letter VG-VG/EX, Sigs. EX/MT-NM, Telegram VG/EXEstimated Price Range: ($2,000-$4,000)