Stratton was a willing signer through the mail for autograph collectors. Though examples of his autograph are plentiful, the one shown above is quite desirable.

Here’s the backstory: In 1909 Louis Heilbroner founded Heilbroner’s Baseball Bureau Service, the first commercial statistical bureau dedicated entirely to baseball. Heilbroner gathered biographical information on players using 3×5 cards. This is one such card.

Stratton filled out and signed this before the lanky right-hander threw his first big league pitch in 1934. The front of this card shows Stratton’s birthplace, height, and weight and his preference of pitching and hitting from the right side. The former All Star Stratton has neatly signed the bottom of the card.

The back of the card has more information about Monty Stratton including a short newspaper article. Resembling a library card from a bygone era, the card lists the teams for which Stratton played.

The newspaper story reads in part, “Baseball offered a lifetime job Saturday to Monty Stratton, the ace White Sox pitcher who recently underwent amputation of his right leg after suffering a gunshot wound.

“J. Louis Comiskey, White Sox president, notified Stratton that as soon as he is fully recovered he can step into a permanent position with the White Sox office organization.”

Such examples of vintage autographs and information make Heilbroner cards coveted by collectors.

In the days following Monty Stratton’s accident, the baseball world rallied around the pitcher. Dozens of letters and telegrams quickly flooded the hospital. Soon after Stratton’s leg was amputated, White Sox Owner J. Louis Comiskey took a stand.

According to Gary Sarnoff’s SABR article the following quote Comiskey appeared in newspapers shortly after. “Monty has a job with us as long as he wants. The White Sox are happy to do anything possible for a member of the organization struck down in his prime.”

The Chicago owner delivered, making Stratton a White Sox coach and batting-practice pitcher for 1939. Despite the pitcher’s progress, he was unable to fulfill his goal of pitching in the preseason exhibition against the cross-town Cubs.

The Windy City teams agreed to give Stratton money from the gate, concessions, and parking. The nearly $30,000 he received is equivalent to more than $650,000 today.

In the collection is this document from the commissioner’s office consummating the transaction that sent George Earnshaw from the White Sox to the Brooklyn Dodgers. It is signed by Dodger president Stephen McKeever and Stratton benefactor J. Louis Comiskey.

Monty Stratton’s courageous comeback after the 1938 amputation of his right leg captivated the country. An All Star in 1937 Stratton won 15 games in both’37 and ’38. After the amputation Stratton made it back to pitching professionally, throwing in the minor leagues until 1953.

In 1948 while the hurler was still active, MGM Studios produced a full-length feature film. Jimmy Stewart starred in the title role of The Stratton Story. The film was a box-office success, earning more than $1 million in profit. During the Oscars it won the Academy Award for best writing in a Motion Picture Story.

Bill Dickey had a speaking part in The Pride of the Yankees, appearing as himself in the Academy Award-wining Lou Gehrig biopic. In 1948 he he appeared in another Oscar winning film, The Stratton Story. Dickey remains the only Major League player to be in two Academy Award-winning baseball films.

In the collection is this contract dated November 15, 1948 calling for Dickey to appear in the movie. The Yankee backstop had previous acting experience playing himself in the Lou Gehrig biopic The Pride of the Yankees. In The Stratton Story Dickey appears in multiple scenes with speaking parts, becoming the only Major League player to be in two Academy Award-winning baseball films.