You are bidding on an RARE Typed and SIGNED LETTER by Hall of Famer TOM CONNOLLY!  The letter is on beautiful "American League Professional Baseball Clubs" letterhead.  Mr. Connolly signed the letter in rare blue fountain pen ink and rates a solid 10/10.  

So..."what's the story", you're asking yourself?  How about this for a chain of events?  You'll get everything mentioned below as part of this chain when purchased.

In early 1935, just nearing the end of the Great Depression, there lived a man named Fred Mann.  Mr. Mann likely was a baseball fan and started umpiring local games to make ends meet.  He considered himself a great umpire and was driven to make it to the big leagues where he might actually get a paycheck doing what he enjoyed.  But how could he ever make it up the baseball ranks when he had little money to drive anywhere?  Mr. Mann started the chain of events by writing the first letter in this grouping.  It's text is handwritten in pencil (and the neatest cursive writing Mr. Mann could manage) on brownish paper and addressed to Mr. Stan Lomax at the local radio station (where presumably Mr. Mann listened intently to Major League ball games).  This letter's text is as follows:

  Station WOR - Mr. Stan Lomax.

Dear Sir-

    Would you please send me the name and address of the umpire in chief of the American Baseball League.  As I would like to have a try out as umpire.  One of your listeners thanking you again.

    I am,  Fred Mann

Well, believe it or not, our friend Fred got a reply from the WFIL broadcasting company!  In a typed, signed letter from Joe Tumelty on WFIL Broadcasting Company, Philadelphia letterhead, Mr. Mann read these words (the 2nd letter you will receive):

    Dear Mr. Mann:

        Tommy Connolly is the Umpire in Chief of the American League and I think you can reach him by addressing a letter care of the American League headquarters in the Straus Building, Chicago, Ill.

        Wishing you luck in your endeavor and best regards, I am,

    Yours in sport, Joe Tumelty (signed)

Well!  Our hero now has the information he needs to get in front of the man in charge, our Hall-of-Famer, Mr. Tom Connolly!  Less than a week later, Mr. Mann sat down at his desk and again in neat cursive on brown lined paper wrote the letter to the Umpire in Chief.  This is the 3rd piece you will receive:

Tommy Connolly

Straus Building

Chicago, Ill

    Dear Mr. Connolly:

    I umpired 4 years for one league rated in class D.  As they play to slow for me I would like to get in a faster league; and I would like a try out and if I could not make the Big League, may be you could place me in one of the farm teams.

    And with a few of the rough-edges taken off I will make good; I have to make good. 

    I am American born.  Born August 7th 1903.  White.  5 foot 9 inches tall, weight 170.  Eyes, ears and health very good.  I am a singel (sic) man.  Can go any place or times.

    Hoping to hear from you at your earleys (sic).

         With best regards, I am

             Fred Mann

* Mann attached a small 2.5" x 3.5" photo of himself and an elderly woman (his mother who he likely lived with?) to the bottom of the letter.

You can almost read Mann's desperation in the letter to Connolly ("I have to make good").  He is ready to make a huge commitment and he dropped the letter in the local mail box.  The next few days Mann checked the mail only to find nothing.  But, he didn't have to wait long.  Tommy Connolly received Fred's letter and was very gracious in writing back!  Could this be the letter that pulled the Mann family out of the depression?  Could it change Fred's fate for years to come?  In the final letter in this grouping, this is Tom Connolly's reply to Fred Mann.  Typed, signed letter of American League of Professional Base Ball Clubs letterhead.

Mr. Fred Mann

27 Second Street

Frenchtown, N.J.

Dear Sir:

    Your letter under date of February 4th received and hasten to reply. 

    Your four years in Class D ball warrants your seeking a higher classification and no doubt the President who has employed you will not hesitate to recommend you.

    We have no opening at the present time.  Mr. Harridge has completed his staff for the coming season.

    I wish you every success.

    Respectfully yours,

            Thomas H. Connolly (signed)

This true tale comes to an end here...  Fred Mann never did umpire in the Big Leagues.  I, for one, hope he pulled out of the rut and lived a long and happy life.  Regardless, this unbroken chain of letters is one of the finest examples of baseball history you will come across.  There are a few other items besides the letters that will be included in this incredible lot.  First, the original American League mailing envelope which was carefully opened by Mann to find the response from Connolly.  Fred Mann's address is neatly typed on the front with a 3 cent stamp still affixed.  Also, you will receive two "Official Base Ball Rules" books, dated 1933 and 1934 respectfully.  Each of these rules books have Fred Mann's signature on the cover.  These were his personal rule books.  Finally, tucked in the pages of the 1934 book, likely used as a page marker, is a flattened "Wings Cigarettes" wrapper...where it has likely been for close to 80 years.

I urge you to look at the photos and bury yourself in the story and history of this unbelievable grouping.  You not only get an extremely rare Connolly signed letter, but you get the entire story to go along with it.  Please let me know if you have any questions or would like to see additional photos of any of the items. 

Thanks for reading!  Brandon