This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/9/2015
Among the most influential people in the history of baseball British born food concessionaire Harry M. Stevens, designed and sold baseball’s first scorecards., the template of which is still employed today and is the man responsible for turning ballpark food into a multi-million dollar industry. Although it has never been conclusively proven he is also credited with having created baseball’s longest standing culinary partner; the Hot Dog.
Appropriately enough Babe Ruth, who knew a thing or two about hot dogs, headed a list a baseball dignitaries in attendance at the Golden Jubilee Testimonial Dinner to the Stevens Boys (Harry and his brothers: Frank, Joe and Bill) on the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Hot Dog by the New York Baseball Writers at the Hotel Commodore in New York City on January 14, 1941.
This 15” x 26” presentation scroll is housed in a 28” x 38” cherry wood frame and contains the following proclamation:
Whereas, there long has been a bond of friendship, sportsmanship and good feeling between the Baseball Writers of New York and the recipients of this Grand Award of Camaraderie, and
Whereas: It long has been the desire of the Baseball Writers of New York to make the Stevens Brothers aware of the affectionate regard in which they are held, therefore be it
Resolved: The the baseball Writers of New York and their guests here assembled vote to the Stevens Brothers this mark of their Love and Devotion, at the same time making obeisance to that oblong of succulence, the Hot Dog, which for a half century has been the backbone of our Great National Pastime.
To which the Great Seal of the Baseball Writers is subjoined with members and friends as witnesses.
Beneath the inscription and seal the historic document is signed prominently in flowing steel tip fountain pen ink by more than 100 attendees including: Babe Ruth, National League President and future Commissioner of Baseball Ford C. Frick, New York Yankees President Ed Barrow, Yankees manager Joe McCarthy, New York Giants owner Horace Stoneham, broadcaster Red Barber, Hall of Fame outfielder Frankie “The Fordham Flash” Frisch, (HOF Umpire) Bill Klem, lifelong Hall of Fame baseball executive Larry MacPhail, and numerous other baseball dignitaries and baseball writers including New York Baseball Writers Association President Tom Meany who wrote the salutation on an original program for the private event also contained here, reading: MAN BITES DOG!
For nobody knows how many years, the Clan Stevens has catered to the appetite of the sporting public, at a profit, and to the appetite of the sporting writers at a loss. Tonight, it’s our turn. Tonight, we give belated and inadequate thanks...
The front cover of the 7” x 9” four page program includes photos of the four Stevens brothers placed at the four corners of a baseball diamond and the “The Dope Sheet” that constitutes the menu on page three includes: “Fruit Coupe Lolla” (C’est la vie) and “Hearts of Celery” and “Queen Olives” (Daily Double), “Lentil Soup” (Frankfurters from the ’29 Army-ND game) “Roast rib of Beef au Jus” “Potato Lorette” “Green Peas Etuvee” (Ten bucks a plate in the Saratoga Clubhouse) “Mixed Green Salad” (Great for Rabbits) “Pave Galce Fraiselia” and “Petit Fours” (Glace Courtesy of Bill Terry) and “Large Coffee” (Why Not? Business is good).
The scroll and program are also accompanied by an original 10” x 20” panoramic black and white photograph of the banquet attendees in which Babe Ruth can clearly be seen sitting at the far left of the head table with all eyes looking towards the camera. This fantastic and nostalgic one-of-a-kind three piece lot comes with a full JSA LOA.