October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
During the 1944 BBWAA New York Chapter “EATING AND ORATORICAL CONTEST” a gentleman named Fred Kacher attended and had his 6.5 x 9 inch program signed by many of the dignitaries also in attendance. Signed on the front cover are the signatures of Commissioner Kenesaw Landis, American League President Will Harridge, Joe Cronin, Johnny Pesky, Eddie Rommel and Babe Ruth. There is also a Connie Mack signature which is a secretarial version. All signatures are in black fountain pen, except for Ruth which is signed boldly in pencil. In addition, there is a two-page handwritten letter from Mr. Kacher to S. Sgt W.W. Jones describing the event, how it was the “greatest night of his life” and saying how he wanted to take his friend the following year, “but we all hope and pray the war will be over by then and things will be back to normal.” Tremendous content regarding his meeting of these baseball men. The four page program includes an additional pull out section of seating arrangements, with a “Mr. Frederick Kacher” printed within and to be seated at Table 86. Interestingly, while each of the actual program and seating arrangement items indicate this is the “21st Annual” event of the New York BBWAA, the dates are different with the program printed with “February 6, 1944,” while the seating arrangement is dated “February 6, 1943.” We go with the event being in 1944, since the handwritten letter is dated “February 9, 1944.” Either way, the signed items are tremendous with absolute provenance from an original attendee. Full LOA from PSA/DNA, cert number V05301.