JAMES LESLIE WILKINSON AUTOGRAPHED HANDWRITTEN POSTCARD TO HIS WIFE Exceedingly RARE Baseball Hall of Fame autograph. Written entirely in his own hand circa 1908 and addressed to his wife "Mrs. J.L. Wilkinson, Des Moines 2020 Pleasant St. Iowa" Written from the town of "Tingley Iowa" as he notes in the upper left he writes "Bess , waiting for train , had nice sleigh ride 14 miles this a.m. Will be in sometime Friday Night I think, Less" About forty years after his passing , James Wilkinson was enshrined among Cooperstown immortals. His posthumous induction was celebrated in 2006, and though he's best remembered as founder of the Kansas City Monarchs , Wilkinson's impact on the professional game was manifold. Known Familiarly as J.L. Wilkinson he helped organize the first all female barnstorming team and for initiating the first professional ball game played "Under the Lights". Perhaps not for these innovations the Hall of Fame's Negro League's committee voted J.L. for enshrinement for his leading role in chartering the Kansas City Monarchs into the Negro League in 1920. Able historians of Negro Leagues Baseball will remember that the Monarchs won 17 pennants , Much on the strength of Wilkinson's keen eye for talent. Over the course of his ownership J.L. contracted such figures as Hilton Smith, Cool Papa Bell, Satchel Paige, Bullet Rogan Bill Foster, Willie Wells and Turkey Stearns as well as signing both Jackie Robinson and Ernie Banks to their first professional contracts. With the advent of integration in Major League Baseball the empire of the Negro Leagues withered and J.L. sold the Monarchs in 1948. Likewise his social and financial stature faded into obscurity, and the great visionary passed away penniless in 1964. This is one of the earliest known signatures of this baseball pioneer. This item originates directly from the family of J.L. Wilkinson , which released all of the less than 10 known Wilkinson signatures. Comes with a notarized letter of authenticity and origin from his family. Almost all of these are now in private collections. Consequently this is quite likely the last opportunity for a Hall of Fame collector to acquire this rare signature. Among 20th century baseball careers , J.L. Wilkinson's was abundantly worthy of Cooperstown enshrinement , and his signature for the benefit of modern hobbyists is painfully scarce and is generally regarded among the most rare and elusive autographs of all members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. $7,500.00 ppd
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