When the German-born Barney Dreyfuss immigrated to the US in the 1880’s he immediately fell in love with the National Pastime of his new country. By 1889 Dreyfuss was a part-owner of the Louisville Colonels and in 1897 he discovered the greatest shortstop of all-time Hones Wagner. The young executive then bought into the Pittsburgh Pirates club and took Wagner and the other Colonels stars with him thereby establishing Major League baseball’s first great dynasty. Dreyfus was very innovative for the time: creating the modern World Series in 1903 pushing for a single commissioner of baseball fighting for the elimination of gambling from the game and building the first concrete and steel ballpark Forbes Field.

This May 25 1909 dated letter is hand written by Dreyfuss on a beautiful sheet of Victorian-esque Pittsburgh Pirates stationary. Penned in black fountain pen the letter is addressed to John Heydler the acting president of the National League. Dreyfuss makes his concerns known about the amount of games under protest in the league that year. Dreyfus writes: “Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your favor of the 22nd just addressed to all League Presidents. After giving the matter a good deal of consideration I have come to agree with your construction of Section 22 of the Natl League Constitution. The language is plain and means just what it says i.e. that appeals shall be considered by a mail vote. The season is only a few weeks old and two games have already been protested and if things continue at the rate we have been going the Lord only knows how many more will come up. In my opinion it is useless to hold a special Meeting unless some of the Club Owners want to get together for some social(?) session at which at best little or no business can be transacted. At present I am entirely too busy to attend any such affairs in Chicago. Very Truly Yours - (signed) Barney Dreyfuss”. The letter has been professionally matted and framed to 12” x 14 1/2”.

Full LOA from PSA/DNA (auto. grade 9).