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Rare Handwritten Letter from John T. Brush, Baseball Pioneer and Giants Owner,
Lot 103. Rare Handwritten Letter from John T. Brush, Baseball Pioneer and Giants Owner, to his friend, Harry M. Stevens. It was Stevens, a concessionaire, who loaned money to Brush to rebuild when the Polo Ground grandstand burned in 1911. An organizer and president of the National League franchise established in Indianapolis in 1887, Brush went on to become one of baseball’s more controversial figures. Sometimes mentioned as a Hall of Fame candidate, he helped spark the Players’ League revolt, and he continually battled Ban Johnson and the American League. With John McGraw, he also turned the New York Giants into one of the N.L.’s most successful teams. He bought control of the Giants in 1902 and won four pennants by the time of his death in 1912. Brush’s letter, written on hotel stationery in San Antonio, Texas, thanks Stevens for a case of whiskey. He wrote, “As I am reducing the size of my drinks and finding that I can get as well loaded on small drinks if I take enough of them as I could on the larger ones, I will have booze to ship back to New York.” Dated March 27, 1911, the letter covers one and one-half pages. Brush signed “John T. Brush” in black fountain pen. The letter is ex with mailing folds, and the signature is 10 of 10. Comes with the original envelope. Authenticated by Kevin Keating.
Winning Bid $592.
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