Lot # 1062: 1950-1952 Negro League Executive Richard Powell Correspondence Collection (14) with Baltimore Elite Giants & Kansas City Monarchs

Get an up-close look at the dealings of a Negro League executive, with this Richard Powell correspondence collection (14). All are typed letters signed, with most appearing on major or minor league clubs’ letterhead, and the signatures are distinct.

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3/18/52 Powell signed letter to Paul Fagan/San Francisco Baseball Club, on Baltimore Elite Giants letterhead. Powell (d.2004) wrote this letter seeking a position as a scout. He mentions prospects Joe Black and “Junior” Gilliam, who he sold to the Montreal Club.

3/21/52 Mickey Shader (d.1953) signed letter to Powell, on San Francisco Baseball Club letterhead. This letter declines Powell request for a scouting, citing “At the present time we are not branching out so far from home”.

7/16/51 Tom Baird (d.1962) signed letter to Powell, on Kansas City Monarchs letterhead. The contents discuss the scheduling of a game in Denver for August 19th.

6/6/51 B.T. Harvey (d.1971) signed letter to Powell, on Negro Southern League Office of the Commissioner letterhead, accompanied by the original envelope.  Harvey was the commissioner of the NSL, and a legendary coach at Morehouse College.

5/1/51 Fresco Thompson (d.1968) signed letter to Powell, on Brooklyn Dodgers letterhead. An MLB career .298 hitter from 1925-1934, Thompson wrote Powell regarding a soon to be released South Carolina convict who was recommended for a job as a ballplayer by MR E.B. Patterson.

12/12/50 G. Moreau signed letter to Powell on Montreal Baseball Club letterhead, accompanied by the original envelope. This letter details an option payment for the contracts of LeRoy (“Toot”) Ferrell, “Junior” Gilliam, and Joe Black.

4/16/51 G. Moreau signed letter to Powell on Montreal Baseball Club letterhead. This is a cover letter from the Royals general manager that was sent with a $10,000 check as final payment for the contracts of Black and Gilliam.

2/14/50 John T. (Jack) Sheehan (d.1983) signed letter to Powell, on Chicago Cubs Minor League System letterhead. This letter discusses a transaction for “Junior” Gilliam and “Toots” Ferrell, and also mentions the potential signing of “Apples” Wilmore.

3/31/50 John T. (Jack) Sheehan (d.1983) signed letter to Powell, on Chicago Cubs Minor League System letterhead. Another letter discussing transaction for Gilliam and Ferrell.

3/25/52 Don Stewart signed letter to Powell, on Los Angeles Dodgers letterhead, accopmanied by its original envelope. Stewart states he forwarded Powell’s letter seeking a scouting position to Wid Mathews.

3/31/52 Margaret Frischman signed letter to Powell, on Chicago Cubs letterhead. As secretary to Wid Mathews, Frischman confirms the receipt of a copy of the above letter from Stewart, and advises Matthews was away until April 7.

4/25/52 Wid Matthews (d.1965) signed letter to Powell, on Chicago Cubs letterhead. This letter states “At the present time our scouting budget is over subscribed and it will be impossible for us to take on additional scouts”.

4/29/51 Charles Wilt signed letter to Powell, on Fort Wayne Civic Baseball Association letterhead. This letter was sent in regards to the scheduling of multiple games.

3/26/51 Edward C. Bush signed letter to Powell, on New Queen City Hotel letterhead. This letter details hotel accommodations, meals, and field prep for Spring Training.

No authentication due to time/cost restraints, however the nature of these letters strongly indicates they are genuine.

Note: This piece arrives from the Richard Powell collection. Mr. Powell was an instrumental figure in Negro League history and responsible for moving the Elite Giants franchise from Nashville to Baltimore prior to the 1938 season. He later served as the team's general manager, and under his tutelage, fielded a lineup of legends including Roy Campanella, Junior Gilliam and Joe Black.