Before becoming baseball’s sixth commissioner, Peter Ueberroth played many roles in the sports world. Chief among them was his role as CEO of the Los Angeles Olympics Organizing Committee.
Successful every step of the way, Ueberroth held the reigns of America’s Pastime as Baseball Commissioner from March 3, 1984 through March 31, 1989.
In the collection is this letter dated May 15, 1987 Ueberroth writes to Hall of Fame pitcher Carl Hubbell. The New York Giants star was the first hurler to earn two MVP Awards. The only other pitcher to accomplish the feat is Tigers’ great Hal Newhouser.
The commissioner encourages the then-83 year old Hubbell to appear in an Old Timers’ Game. In the first sentence Ueberroth mentions Joe Garagiola.
The commissioner then adds, “…as Joe said if there is any possibility of you participating as a coach or manager at any of the Equitable Old-Timer Games, just say the word. There are a lot of baseball fans out there that would take a great deal of pleasure to see you on the field one more time.”
Ueberroth adds his signature at the bottom of the letter.
Though he will never reach Cooperstown, Ueberroth is in the Olympic Hall of Fame.