Early baseball executive (1865–1932) who owned the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1900 until his death, often credited with the creation of the modern baseball World Series. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2008 following his election by the Veterans Committee. ALS, three pages on two adjoining sheets, 5 x 6.25, Hollywood Beach Hotel and Country Club letterhead, March 5, 1930. Letter to future Hall of Famer Max Carey. In part: "As I told you in December last, I have forgotten 1926 long ago, only hope that 1930 will turn out to be a successful year for us all. You can make yourself quite useful to the Club—this is entirely up to you. I have left everything up to Jewel and Sam, work hand in hand with them, and you will get along with me allright, if they want any advice from me it is there for the asking, however I will not interfere unless I am asked. Believe we have a good hitting Ball Club, which with fair pitching should be in the race from start to finish—am not afraid of the Cubs, any side arm pitcher can stop them hitting and outside of one man I am not afraid of their pitching. As soon as Grimes’ divorce suit is decided I look for him to come to terms. Bartell I am not worried about, if Grantham is in good shape, the other boys will from what I have seen of them take care of Short. Catching & Pitching is as good as any other Club. All they have to do is to hustle from the beginning until the last man is out. Will go over to Miami next Saturday to see the Athletic–Cardinal game—don’t think they’ll draw very much—they are not getting any publicity." In fine condition. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope, addressed in Dreyfuss’s hand.
Max Carey began his playing career with the Pirates in 1910 and quickly became one of the most prolific base stealers in baseball. He was at his finest during the 1925 World Series, leading the Pirates to a come-from-behind victory in game seven against the great Walter Johnson. The next season, as a well-respected veteran and captain of the team, Carey took it upon himself to voice clubhouse complaints about ex-manager Fred Clarke, who was allowed to sit in the dugout during games and was a source of constant second-guessing and criticism. With the team growing tired of Clarke's behavior, Carey demanded that he be removed from the bench—instead, Dreyfuss suspended his star player and waived him shortly thereafter. As suggested in the present letter, these old wounds were healed by 1930 and Carey accepted Dreyfuss's invitation to coach. Despite his optimism, however, the team took a blow when Burleigh Grimes—arguably the best pitcher in the league over the previous two seasons—demanded a two-year contract at $20,000 per season and threatened to hold out if refused. Grimes was sent to Boston for a mediocre reliever and Pittsburgh's pitchers struggled through the entire year, finishing as the second-worst staff in all of baseball. The team still finished with a winning record behind an offense powered by future Hall of Famers Paul Waner, Lloyd Waner, and Pie Traynor, but only managed to come in fifth in the National League. Rife with excellent baseball content, this scarce Dreyfuss letter making amends with his Hall of Fame outfielder is an absolutely outstanding piece. Pre-certified PSA/DNA.
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