JOE CRONIN - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 09/29/1981 - HFSID 290887

JOE CRONIN
Handwritten letter criticizing the concept of split seasons in baseball, the year a baseball strike led to one
Autograph Letter signed: "Joe Cronin", 1 page, 7¼x9¾. Osterville, Massachusetts, 1981 September 29. On personal letterhead to "Dear Richard". In full: "I don't care for the Split Season. The winner of the first half can coast for half the season. The winner of the second half could have a very low percentage. Be lucky enough to win from the first half winner and be a poor representative in the World Series. Thank you for your interest in our great game. Cordially". Joseph Edward "Joe" Cronin (1906-1984), who served two terms as the American League's President (1959 through January 1974), was the first former player to hold that position. He had been the A.L.'s All-Star shortstop seven times and enjoyed eight 100-RBI seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates. At the age of 27, Cronin had won the 1933 pennant as the Senators' rookie Manager before being traded to the Boston Red Sox. Cronin served as the Red Sox General Manager from 1948-1959. His #4 was retired by the team on May 29, 1984, just over three months before Cronin's death in September of that year. Cronin had been elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956. A labor dispute interrupted the 1981 season, and a split season was the improvised solution when play resumed. The outcome realized Cronin's fears. The Dodgers won the World Series over the Yankees, but the two National League teams with the best overall records (Reds and Cardinals) didn't even make the playoffs. Major League baseball has never returned to a split season format, although some minor leagues use it. Some of Cronin's objections apply to the current 8-team playoff format, however. Multiple mailing folds. Fine condition.