Winter 2014 Auction Closing Feb 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2014
Casey Stengel managed the likes of Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra to seven World Series titles and 10 American League pennants during his 25-year coaching career in the Big Leagues. The “Old Perfessor” starting his coaching career with Brooklyn in 1934 before shifting to Boston in 1938. It was in 1940, while managing the Boston Bees, when Stengel drafted this remarkable handwritten letter to his sister Louise, apologizing for the time it has taken him to respond to her. This 6x9-inch, three-page letter, has a “NETHERLAND PLAZA CINCINNATI, OHIO” header and picture of the hotel in the bottom left corner: “Dear Louise. I have been very slow to answer your letters’ reason is that Edna + I have been so busy and she returned home today by way of Chicago + then on the Union Pacific so won’t stop at K.C. She had a nice trip but did not see us win many games. Every club is after my (pitchers written with a line through it) players for a trade but will not give any good players in return and our club needs the money badly + expect the owners to make a deal by June 15th. My pitchers are terrible but my young men in the field have been doing well. I am mailing you 100.00 for your account at the bank and will positively send you another hundred at the first of July. Hope all are well and doing O.K. With love to all your loving brother C.D. Stengel.” The letter also comes with the original 3.5 x 6.5-inch Netherland Plaza envelope addressed to “Miss Louise Stengel, 4149 Harrison St., Kansas City, Missouri.” The letter is in remarkable condition and shows two of the usual fold marks. The item is a unique piece of history, containing tremendous baseball content form the early days of Stengel's Hall of Fame managing career. Full LOA #T05886 from PSA/DNA.