Auction Item Details
Lot 426
LOADING IMAGES
Lot Number: 426
Description: Collection of Materials with relation to Ted Williams 1966 National Baseball Hall of Fame Induction including notification letter and possibly previous unknown draft of Williams' speech. Important selection of materials with relation to the election and subsequent induction of Ted Williams into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Includes the original two page typewritten letter on Hall of Fame stationery as sent to Williams by President Paul Kerr formally notifying Williams of his election to the Hall of Fame. Content is congratulatory and reads, in part, "Dear Ted: Congratulations on your election to Baseball's Hall of Fame! This is an honor you so richly deserve and I am delighted to see that 93% of the Baseball Writers recognized that fact. I don't understand what the other seven were thinking about !" .: EX; Subsequent letter of February 1, 1966 from Kerr to Williams regarding travel details and arrangements for the induction ceremonies. Letter also includes Ted's original carbon file copy letter in which he writes, "Received your very kind letter of January 20th and needless to say, I cannot tell you how pleased and proud I am on my election to the Hall of Fame.": Range VG-EX; Five page typewritten speech in what appears to be an original draft of Ted Williams' Induction remarks. First page is typed on vintage Red Sox stationery with handwritten notations and corrections. The additional three pages are on unmarked typing paper and the back of a Western Union Telegram. Content includes the majority of Williams' induction speech as delivered but also includes several comments and sentences that were omitted from the given speech. Expanded references to Satchel Paige and Josh Gibson are also found within the content. Fascinating original draft of one of the more notable HOF Induction speeches in the history of the game found folded and placed within a vintage book in Williams' library: VG; Vintage Xerox copy of Ted Williams actual Hall of Fame induction speech which remains one of the most important to date as Williams relayed his wishes that African American players be allowed into the Hall of Fame one day. Includes a vintage envelope from "Orchid Springs Development Co." with hand written notation from Ted Williams in blue ink, "Ted Speech at Cooperstown": EX; Presentational leather bound photograph album with numerous professional 7"x9" color images taken during the ceremonies at Cooperstown, New York. "1966 Stengel/Williams" impressed gilt lettering on the spine with "Cooperstown, NY July 25, 1966" on front cover. Signed on interior cover page, "To Dick Best Always Ted Williams" in black marker: EX-EX/MT; and collection of (11) vintage color photographs taken during the ceremonies at Cooperstown inclusive of some 3"x4 1/2" candid snapshots taken near the induction stage: EX. Very fine and comprehensive archive of materials with a notably significant notification letter of enshrinement sent to Ted Williams which without question held a prominent place within his collection.Estimated Price Range: ($1,000-$3,000)
Sold for Price: Login or Register