Embracing the derisive “white elephant” mascot, Hall of Fame skipper Connie Mack endured 50 years and guided two A's dynasties to eight pennants and five World Series titles. Along the way, Mack enlisted 17-year-old Jimmie Foxx and mentored him into the game’s most feared slugger. The two are together is this lot of (2) autographed items. Includes: Foxx: black-ink fountain pen cut signature (“8” strength); Mack: 1949 correspondence on Athletics stationery; black-ink fountain pen signature shows (“9” strength). Individual JSA full photo LOAs.

Jimmie Foxx Cut Signature: executed on a 4-7/8 x 2-3/4” blank sheet

Connie Mack Signed Letter: composed on an 8-1/2 x 11” sheet of Philadelphia Athletics stationery, the typewritten correspondence is dated “September 8, 1949” and addressed to a Philadelphia recipient. The crisp sheet has normal mailing folds and Mack’s signature is decidedly bold, showing (“9”) potency. The baseball content, meanwhile, is outstanding! The letter reads (in full):

”Dear Mr. Waters:

I walked with Owen recently, and he is coming here with his club on Saturday morning, at which time we are to take a picture of the players and myself.

At the present time we are meeting with a great many accidents, as you probably know from reading the newspapers. Majeski was hit by a pitched ball and has been out of the game ever since. Joost has been laid up for a number of days, and missed the Boston and Yankee games.

Note that your Uncle Dan had a birthday in June.

Am sorry to say that Fox has not been of a great deal of help to our club. It seems that in Boston, he went all to pieces and failed to play a good game. It may be that the boy was off in that series, and may come around all right in the future. However, I do feel that our club will not be able to win any games until Majeski and Joost are back in the line up.

With kindest regards and best wishes, I remain

Sincerely yours,

(signed) Connie Mack”

The “Fox” to which Mack refers in none other than Nellie Fox. Obviously not content with his player, Mack traded Fox after using him sparingly for three seasons (1947-1949). In the transaction, the A’s received Joe Tipton, who batted .236 over a seven-year career during which he played for four different teams (including two tours of duty with Cleveland). Fox, meanwhile, enjoyed a 19-year Hall of Fame career.