The Wee Willie Keeler Letters

[HOF Auto Rookies]

Awesome story, thanks for sharing. I have not ever heard of them before until now. Sorry, but good luck

[mighty bombjack]

I have never heard of a Keeler letter, and I would certainly remember if I had.

Do you still have the photocopy of the one letter? I'd love to see a scan.

[JimStinson]

Yes, I have the photo copy of the letter but its the only detailed handwritting of his I've ever seen anywhere and for obvious reasons I have never shared it with anyone. The same is true for Hall of Famers Jose Mendez and Cristobal Torriente.

Without going into too much detail I once had a super rare autograph and sample of handwritting but held it for 10 years because I could not find a known example of both the signature and handwritting. Finally I was able to verify both , then sold it and miraculously saw at least three others offered for sale within 6 months ....maybe just coincidence

[David Atkatz]

Jim, Keeler's daybook/diary, which had been owned by his nephew on Long Island, sold a few years back, at auction, for $60-odd-thousand.

The diary had been described by author Burt Solomon in his book, "Where they Ain't."

(And there were copious pictures published both on the web, and in the printed catalog, so there are reliable samples of Keeler's handwriting in circulation.)

(I contacted Solomon during the auction, before I bid, and he told me that, yes, that was the diary he had seen at the nephew's house years earlier.)

[JimStinson]

Thanks and very interesting about the journal, as it was a nephew who possessed the letters , maybe it was the same nephew but if he cut loose one seems like he would have cut loose the others. Keeler was unmarried and had no children so his brother would have been his next of kin upon his death.
Willie Keeler once owned a considerable amount of New York real estate but was almost penniless and sharing a NYC apartment when he died
_____________________
Buying and selling Vintage autographs
jim@stinsonsports.com

[JimStinson]

Found it , it sold for $83,000 in 2010 , there were other Keeler personal affects in the auction too so I would have to guess the letters sold through private sale at some point between the 1960's and 2010.

[David Atkatz]

I bought the miniature baseball and glove which was given to Willie to commemorate his Testimonial Dinner – February 21st, 1910.