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1884 A.G. Mills Signed Letter to Harry Wright Advocating for Change to Base-on-Balls Rule....
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Description
1884 A.G. Mills Signed Letter to Harry Wright Advocating for Change to Base-on-Balls Rule. Today Abraham Gilbert Mills is best remembered for his eponymous commission which concluded that the game of baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday, but Mills' influence upon the game extends far beyond that famous paternity suit. We find one of the more significant elements of his service to our national pastime here, as he writes to Hall of Fame pioneer Harry Wright, stating in part, "I have for a long time advocated reducing the number of call balls to six, and will gladly advocate it at the March meeting."Sure enough, the 1884 season saw that change implemented, dropping the tally of balls from eight to six, though it would rise to seven a couple years later before settling at the count of four that stands to this day in 1889. The letter also makes mention of an alteration of the distance between the pitcher's mound and home plate, and the count of championship games, making mention of another Hall of Fame pioneer, A.G. Spalding, as it does. Full LOA from Beckett Authentication Services.
The letter appears on lovely letterhead from "The Arbitration Committee Acting Under the National Agreement of Professional Base Ball Associations," and is signed at the close in 8/10 black fountain pen ink. A few small holes and extra paper on verso are the result of scrapbook removal, but the letter still presents beautifully and loses none of its enormous historical significance. Dimensions are 10x7.75". Full LOA from PSA/DNA.
Auction Info
2021 August 21 - 22 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction #50045 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2021
21st-22nd
Saturday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 1
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
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