ALBERT B. "HAPPY" CHANDLER - TYPED LETTER SIGNED 11/20/1945 - HFSID 343923

ALBERT B. "HAPPY" CHANDLER
The MLB Commissioner signed this typed letter to Captain Ward
Typed letter signed: "A.B. Chandler" in black ink. 8x7 letter affixed to 8½x11 sheet. Cincinnati, November 20, 1945. Typed on Baseball letterhead, to Captain Ward. In full: "My dear Captain Ward: It gives me a great deal of pleasure to send you my autograph. It goes to you with assurances of my warm good wishes. Cordially yours". Nicknamed "Happy", Albert B. Chandler (1898-1991) was the Commissioner of Baseball from 1945-1951. He was primarily a politician who served as Kentucky Governor (1935-1939, 1955-1959) and U.S. Senator (1939-1945) before his appointment as leader of the MLB. He was chosen for the position out of fear of the owners that their players would be made eligible for the draft and thought Chandler could help their players become exempt. Perhaps his most significant contribution to the sport was his full support for integration. Jackie Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers during Chandler's tenure with the commissioner's support. Chandler was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982. Before his notable accomplishments as commissioner, he was elected Governor of Kentucky at the young age of 37 and led major tax reform. Twenty years later, he was nominated for a second term. During this last term he worked to balance the budget and supported integration just as he did when he worked for the MLB. Corners slightly rounded. Horizontal fold across center. Photograph of the commissioner affixed to verso. Otherwise, fine condition.