- Thread starter
- #1
Topnotchsy
Featured Contributor, The best players in history?
- Aug 7, 2008
- 9,450
- 181
As you may know, a significant focus of my collection is the Integration and Jackie Robinson. To me, Jackie's story transcends sports, and was one of the proudest sports moments in history. A time when sports showed that it could use it fame and publicity to take a massive step forward for society.
There were many people instrumental in Jackie Robinson becoming the first black player. One person who supported Jackie throughout the process was A.B. "Happy" Chandler. Chandler became the commissioner of baseball after the death of Kennesaw "Mountain" Landis in 1944. And while it does not seem that Landis was against black players (as is sometimes portrayed), the "great experiment" did not happen under his watch. It was under former senator Chandler who took over in 1945 and was the commissioner during the transformative period that included the end of WWII and the years following.
As the pictures show, I was able to pick up an original signed copy of the contract that Landis and the owners signed making him commissioner. The contract is signed by Chandler along with a representative from each team. Those include all-time great Eddie Collins, Branch Rickey (who would sign Jackie), Connie Mack, Clark Griffiths etc.
There were many people instrumental in Jackie Robinson becoming the first black player. One person who supported Jackie throughout the process was A.B. "Happy" Chandler. Chandler became the commissioner of baseball after the death of Kennesaw "Mountain" Landis in 1944. And while it does not seem that Landis was against black players (as is sometimes portrayed), the "great experiment" did not happen under his watch. It was under former senator Chandler who took over in 1945 and was the commissioner during the transformative period that included the end of WWII and the years following.
As the pictures show, I was able to pick up an original signed copy of the contract that Landis and the owners signed making him commissioner. The contract is signed by Chandler along with a representative from each team. Those include all-time great Eddie Collins, Branch Rickey (who would sign Jackie), Connie Mack, Clark Griffiths etc.
Attachments
-
1945 Happy Chandler Commissioner Contract 2.jpg52.9 KB · Views: 40
-
1945 Happy Chandler Commissioner Contract 4.jpg82 KB · Views: 44
-
1945 Happy Chandler Commissioner Contract 5.jpg75.8 KB · Views: 39
-
1945 Happy Chandler Commissioner Contract 6.jpg83.1 KB · Views: 36
-
1945 Happy Chandler Commissioner Contract 7.jpg82.8 KB · Views: 34