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At 6’2″, 215 pounds, Johnny Mize was a big man for the St. Louis Cardinals both literally and figuratively. Despite his size and power, Mize was renown for his graceful athleticism.

According to his page on the Hall of Fame website, “Johnny Mize entered major league baseball in 1936, and soon took on the nickname ‘The Big Cat’ because of the poise in his stance when he was at bat and his ease in the field.

“‘Did you ever see a pitcher knock him down at the plate?’ Mize’s Cardinals teammate Stan Musial said. ‘Remember how he reacted when brushed back? He’d just lean back and on his left foot, bend his body back and let the pitch go by. Then he’d lean back into the batter’s box and resume his stance, as graceful as a big cat.’”

Musial saw Mize up close in Stan’s first season of 1941. That year The Big Cat led all Cardinals batters in doubles, homers, runs batted in, and WAR.

Mize played his first six seasons in St. Louis then was traded to the New York Giants before the ’42 season. His first season in the Big Apple was a good one – he led the NL in RBI and slugging percentage. Then on March 25, 1943 he enlisted into the US Navy.

He spent the next three full seasons in the service. Mize’s first season back was ’46 was an All Star campaign. That same year, Musial led the Senior Circuit in runs, hits, doubles, triples, batting average, slugging percentage, and WAR.

In December that year Musial received the above telegram. It invites him to New York City’s Waldorf Astoria to pick up the Sid Mercer Award.

The honor was created by the NY chapter of the BBWAA in 1931 and called the “Outstanding Player of the Year Award”. In 1945 the writers renamed it in memory of Mercer who originally suggested the award.

Musial autographed this original offering that has found its way into the Cooperstown.com collection.

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Johnny Mize enjoyed a 15-year career in the big leagues. His production was so great that he made the Hall of Fame despite missing three full seasons in his prime due to World War II.

Mize broke in with the Cardinals in 1936 and made an immediate impact. The 23-year old played in 126 games, hit .329 with a .402 on-base percentage and a .577 slugging mark. His 19 homers led the club while his 93 RBI were second only to Hall of Famer Joe Medwick.

Mize received MVP votes in 5 of his 6 years with the Cardinals. In 1939, he hit .349 to capture the batting crown. Mize followed up that campaign by posting an NL-best 43 homers and 137 RBI. In both ’39 and ’40 he finished as runner up in the MVP race. His 6 seasons in St. Louis featured an OPS of 1.018.

Despite his performance in 1940, Cardinals owner Sam Breadon offered only a slight raise in pay. Mize held out for more money before signing in March of 1941.

The relationship between Mize and the Cardinals was forever damaged. In December of ’41 St. Louis GM Branch Rickey dealt Mize to the New York Giants for pitcher Bill Lohrman, catcher Ken O’Dea, first baseman Johnny McCarthy and $50,000. It remains one of the worst trades in Cardinals history.

Mize continued his greatness in New York, leading the NL in RBI and slugging percentage in his first year with the Giants. World War II then interrupted his dominance as Mize missed three years, starting in his age-30 season.

Upon his return, Mize didn’t miss a beat. In 1946 he slashed .337/.437/.536. In ’47 he led the league in runs and RBI and tied for the top spot in homers. His 51 bombs came with only 42 strikeouts.

Though the slugger again tied for the league lead in homers in ’48, his averaged dipped below .300 for the first time in his career. Through the first 106 games of 1948 Mize hit .263. This marked the end of his regular-season dominance.

In the collection is this contract signed by Mize on St. Patrick’s Day, 1948. The deal calls for Mize’s stamped signature to appear on souvenir baseballs. The terms of the contract? Mize received one cent per ball sold.

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Johnny Mize was outstanding in his first 11 big league seasons. He led the league in homers four times, RBI thrice, and made 10 All Star teams. The only thing missing on his resume was a World Series ring.

Mize got that chance to change that when the Yankees purchased his contract from the crosstown New York Giants on August 22, 1949.

Though he hit only .261 got the Yankees in the final 13 games of the season, Mize played a pivotal role in the postseason. With the Series tied at a game apiece he came up big in Game 3.

Brooklyn and the Yankees were locked in a 1-1 tie entering the 9th inning. With two out, the Yankees loaded the bases and called on Mize to pinch hit.

The Big Cat delivered a two-RBI single to right to help the Yanks go up 2-games-to-1. New York beat Brooklyn in five games to give Mize his ring.

Mize wasn’t through yet. In his final 5 seasons from 1949-1953 he helped New York win five consecutive Fall Classics.

Mize’s shining postseason moment came in the 1952 World Series.

In a rematch against Brooklyn he went 6-for-15 with a double, three homers, three walks, three runs scored and six RBI. In the days before an official World Series MVP Award, Sport Magazine gave a car to the Series’ outstanding player. Mize’s performance earned him the new car.

In 1953 he earned his 5th ring in as many years then retired. Cooperstown opened its doors to Mize in 1981.

In the collection is this government postcard signed by Mize. It is dated the day after the move to the Yankees that changed his life.

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Shown here is the other side of the government postcard signed by Mize. Notice the Detroit postmark dated August 23, 1949, the day after the Yankees acquired the future Hall of Famer.

A quick glance at Baseball Reference shows that Mize’s new club played the Tigers the day of the postmark. One can only wonder what he thought as he joined the team that would take him to five World Series triumphs.

Signatures of Johnny Mize are by no means rare. Examples such as this from his playing career are highly sought after.

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Ralph Houk and Johnny Mize were teammates with the Yankees from 1949-1953. Both were nearing the end of their playing careers with championship New York ball clubs.

Some years later Houk became the Yankee skipper and GM. It’s in this capacity that Houk sent this invitation to the Old Timer’s Game to Mize. Mize’s response is below.

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On his personal letterhead Johnny Mize responds affirmatively to the Old Timer’s Day invitation. The ten-time All Star writes, “Thanks to the Yankees for including me in their annual Old Timer’s Day celebration and I am honored to accept.”

Mize goes on to let the Yankees know that his wife and daughter will be in attendance too. Mize played five years in New York helping the Yanks win five straight World Series titles.

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When Babe Ruth married his second wife Claire, he also married into the Mize family. Claire was the second cousin of Hall of Fame first baseman Johnny Mize.

In the collection is a letter from Claire’s biological daughter Julia who was adopted by Ruth. Julie Ruth Stevens thanks the fan for a photo of the Babe before turning the subject to “Uncle Johnny”.

“Mother had always hoped he’d be elected to the Hall of Fame, as of course so did I. However I understand it’s a question of politics and somehow Johnny is not too popular with the sportswriters. Too bad. He sure deserves to be there.”

Mize got there the following year.