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1947 Branch Rickey Signed Letter Sent to Walter O'Malley (JSA)
Presented is a signed January 23, 1947, letter (measuring 8.5x11"), sent from Baseball Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey to Baseball Hall of Fame executive Walter O'Malley. The letter is written on Brooklyn Dodgers stationery, with the colorful red, white, and blue Dodgers logo at the top. The letter reads, "Dear Walter: As per your letter of January 20th, I enclose the following: Three copies of letter of January 20th, 1947 addressed to you by Herbert L. Pettey./Two copies of letter dated January 6th, 1947 addressed to the Brooklyn National League Baseball Club, Inc. by Lennen & Mitchell./Two originals of the two letters addressed to you by Mr. Pettey under date of December 20th 1946. We have made copies of these for our files./Very truly yours, Branch Rickey." The content of the Rickey letter to O'Malley seems routine. What's most important is the signature of Rickey, who was about to make a move of national importance. Rickey was planning to have Jackie Robinson break the Major League "Color Line" with Robinson making his debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers in slightly over three months. from the date of this letter (Robinson debited at Ebbets Field on April 15, 1947). What's fascinating is that at the time of the offered letter, Rickey was the Dodgers' President/General Manager, and a one-quarter owner of the team. O'Malley at that time was also a one-quarter owner of the Dodgers. The two did not get along and fought for power over control of the franchise. In 1950, O'Malley would gain control of fifty percent of the Dodgers and force Rickey out of ownership. Rickey neatly signed the letter with a steel tip fountain pen in black ink. The letter does show some slight darkening because of the passage of over 75 years, but overall, the hand-delivered letter, with two punch holes at the top for filing, is in excellent condition. The Rickey to O'Malley letter comes with a JSA LOA.
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