LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2008 May Signature Sports Collectibles #709  / 

19431

1957 Jackie Robinson Signed Retirement Letter.

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Autographs (Original) Start Price:4,750.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
1957 Jackie Robinson Signed Retirement Letter.
<B>1957 Jackie Robinson Signed Retirement Letter.</B></I> The incredible saga of baseball's most culturally significant career came to a close when this letter was presented to New York Giants owner Horace Stoneham, who had acquired the pioneering Hall of Famer from the Brooklyn Dodgers for the sum of Dick Littlefield and $30,000 cash. In the ten years since his heroic transversal of baseball's color line, the superstar infielder had won over most of the sporting world with his talent and dignity, inspiring an outcry from baseball fans at his departure from the Major Leagues quite different but almost as vocal as was heard upon his arrival. Dodgers general manager Buzzie Bavasi would explain that that the dismissal of Robinson from his beloved Bums had been team owner Walter O'Malley's idea alone, and Jackie would characterize the 2008 Hall of Fame inductee in his 1972 autobiography <I>I Never Had It Made</B></I> as "viciously antagonistic." Bavasi was personally opposed to the trade, noting, "The only reason he was traded was because Walter O'Malley and Jackie never got along. It was a personal feud between Walter and Jackie, and I was asked to trade him. Walter wanted a trade a year earlier, but I told Walter we could win the pennant in '56 with Jackie and wouldn't without him. So he put it off a year."<BR><BR>Though the popular story in baseball culture is that Robinson considered the Polo Grounds the enemy camp and chose retirement over the treasonous act of suiting up in a Giants uniform, the truth is that his denial of such rumors in the text of his January 14, 1957 letter to Stoneham is likely genuine. He writes:<BR><BR><BR><I>Dear Mr. Stoneham:<BR><BR>After due consideration I have decided to request to be placed on the voluntary retired list as I am going to devote my full time to the business opportunities that have been presented.<BR><BR>My sincere thanks to you and to Mr. Feeney for your wonderful cooperation and understanding in this matter.<BR><BR>I assure you that my retirement has nothing to do with my trade to your organization. From all I have heard from people who have worked with you it would have been a pleasure to have been in your organization.<BR><BR>Again my thanks and continued success for you and the New York Giants.<BR><BR>Sincerely,<BR><BR>(signed) Jackie Robinson</B></I><BR><BR><BR>It has been well established that Robinson had signed a two-year contract to become a vice president and director of personnel for Chock Full o' Nuts, a chain of New York-based lunch counters, in December of 1956, and his letter of retirement appears on company letterhead. A story leaked by <I>Look Magazine,</B></I> written weeks before the trade, was to break the news of Robinson's retirement, though Bavasi would irk Jackie by publicly surmising a few weeks after the December 13th trade announcement that it was a ruse intended to loosen Giants purse strings. And so, days later, this letter arrived at Stoneham's Times Square office, ending all such speculation. Stoneham was gracious in his acceptance of the disappointing news, telling Jackie, "I can't help but thinking it would have been fun to have had you on our side for a year or two."<BR><BR>Rarely does a document of such historical importance find its way into the public domain, and Heritage is honored by the opportunity to present it to the collecting world. There is no question but that the career of Jackie Robinson has had an enormous effect upon American culture that extends far beyond the grandstands of Major League Baseball. When Robinson bade farewell to the game with this letter, it was far different than it had been upon its arrival, and far more worthy of its characterization as our National Pastime.<BR><BR>The 8.5x11" page exhibits minor toning at the edges and insignificant wrinkling at the lower edges, presenting flawlessly. Robinson's signature is 10/10. <I>LOA from PSA/DNA. LOA from James Spence Authentication.</B></I><BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Flat Material, Small (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
Sign In to Bookmark Lot