BILL "WAMBY" WAMBSGANSS - AUTOGRAPH NOTE SIGNED 02/26/1943 - HFSID 291130

BILL WAMBSGANSS
Handwritten note by the man who made the only unassisted triple play in World Series history

Autograph Note signed: "Bill Wambsganss", 5x3 postcard, postmarked Cleveland, Ohio, February 26, 1943. Addressed in his hand on verso to Peggy Donahy, Brockton, Massachusetts. In full: "Thank you and good luck."  Bill Wambsganss (1894-1985) played second base and shortstop for the Cleveland Indians for 10 years (1914-1923), followed by 3 seasons with the Red Sox and A's. A steady fielder, he excelled at dead ball era batting tactics, especially the bunt, which were losing favor in the era of Babe Ruth and the lively ball. (He led the league in sacrifice hits with 43 in and 1921 and 42 in 1922, astonishingly high totals by modern standards.) He disliked the nickname Wamby, given to him because he name wouldn't fit in the newspaper box scores. Wambsganss' moment of glory came in the 1920 World Series against the Dodgers. In the fifth inning of Game 5, with runners on first and second and nobody out, he snared a line drive that appeared headed for the outfield grass, tagged second base to force out the runner who had not tagged up there, and then turned around to touch the runner on first who was still headed for second. An unassisted triple play is a very rare event, and has not happened in a World Series before or since. In the late 1940s, Wambsganss managed the Fort Wayne Daisies and Muskegon Lassies of the All American Girls Baseball League. Toned. Multiple ink smears but legible. Ink stamps on verso. Otherwise, fine condition.