This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 7/8/2004.
One of the greatest hitters of all time, Jimmie Foxx debuted in the Majors at the age of 17 with the 1925 A's. His breakthrough year came in 1929, when he batted .354 with 33 home runs. His 1932 record of 58 home runs for a right-handed hitter stood until Mark McGwire broke it in 1998 with 70. Foxx won the Triple Crown in 1933 and was the league MVP in both 1932 and 1933. Widely attributed to a drinking problem, Foxx's skills had diminished by 1942. By 1945 he was out of Major League Baseball, but was inducted into the HOF in 1951 with a career .325 batting average and 534 home runs. Chicago Cubs owner Wrigley, hoping to keep up interest in baseball during WWII, founded the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1943. Wrigley initially felt that one of the things that would draw fans would be famous managers. Along with fellow HOFers Max Carey and Dave Bancroft, Jimmie Foxx, who by then was down on his luck, managed the Fort Wayne Daisies. The league lasted until 1954, and Foxx the coach was further immortalized by Tom Hanks in the film, "A League of Their Own" (1992). This is a photo of Foxx as the Daisies' coach, framed to 15" x 17." Taped on the back of the frame are two small cutout photos with captions from various AAGPBL games. Jimmie Foxx has signed and inscribed the photo in black fountain pen, with the inscription "Alice - You are a swell 'gal' and a very fine friend, Sincerely, Jimmie Foxx." Foxx is a rare autograph and this one is as close to perfect as they get! Comes with a letter from PSA/DNA.