Lot # 28: 1951 Alex Pompez Typed Letter Signed on Tremendous Barnstorming Tour Letterhead - Full PSA LOA

One-page typed letter, dated September 24, 1951, signed by Alex Pompez, Hall of Fame Negro League owner and executive. In his letter, on Barnstorming Tour letterhead for which he is named as Director, Pompez writes to Mr. Richard Powell regarding a contract for a game scheduled for October 11. In full: Dear Mr. Powell, Enclosed herewith please find a contract for the game of October 11th at Baltimore. Kindly sign same and return to us at once. Publicity for same followers under separate cover. Many kind thanks for your courtesies. Very truly yours, Alex Pompez [signed]." Pompez's signature is scripted in black ink. Mr. Powell was an instrumental figure in Negro League history and was 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. Pompez, a Cuban American, was one of the most important figures in Negro League baseball. He founded the New York Cuban Stars in 1916 and owned the club for its entire 35-year existence, during which time the club imported most of the top Latin players in the game. After the Negro Leagues folded in 1950, the Giants hired Pompez as a scout, as they recognized his eye for talent, and more importantly, they realized his value with regard to recruiting Latin American players. Pompez was also almost single-handedly responsible for opening up the Dominican Republic market to major league baseball. Pompez died in 1974, but he wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame until 2006. As a result, his signature is very rare today. The letter displays three horizontal mailing folds. In Excellent condition overall. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.