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William C. Kashatus research papers

 Collection
Identifier: BA MSS 053

Scope and Contents

The William Kashatus collection consists of materials compiled and/or created between 1904 and 2020 in the preparation and writing of his books and articles. This includes the biography "One-Armed Wonder: Pete Gray, Wartime Baseball, and the American Dream". Included are questionnaires and correspondence with individuals such as Bob Broeg, Bill Borst and Tim McCarver, an interview with Pete Gray conducted by Steve Svetovich, as well as correspondence between William Kashatus and various publishers regarding both his manuscripts and articles. Clippings of articles used by Kashatus in his research, as well as articles written by Kashatus on both Pete Gray and on Philadelphia Baseball and materials regarding the history of Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley coal filds. There are different proofs and manuscripts of the book, including the primary source documentation for an early draft entitled, "Beating the Odds: An Unauthorized Biography of the One-Armed Outfielder Pete Gray". There is information on the Pete Gray Historical Marker, dedication program, and two tickets to the Red Barons and Syracuse Skychiefs, August 24, 2003.

Materials relating to his books "Macho Row", relates to the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies, published in 2017, and "Lefty and Tim", relates to Steve Carlton and Tim McCarver, published in 2022. Material includes interview transcripts, clippings, articles, correspondence.

Materials were included for three unpublished works. There is a spiral-bound book on Stan Pawloski and the Cleveland Indians. This has photocopies of articles, clippings, biography, and an interview. The second is clippings, articles, and interviews on Rocky Colavito, and the third is about Howie Bedell, and includes clippings, correspondence, and a 2012 manuscript.

Dates

  • 1904-2020

Creator

Language of Materials

English .

Conditions Governing Access

Materials are open without restrictions but viewing materials does require an appointment. Please contact the Giamatti Research Center, research@baseballhall.org, 607-547-0330.

Conditions Governing Use

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum provides use copies of materials to facilitate private study, scholarship, and research. The Museum welcomes you to use materials in our collections that are in the public domain and to make fair use of copyrighted materials as defined by copyright law and with proper citation.

Biographical / Historical

Kashatus is the author of numerous books and articles on baseball in Eastern Pennsylvania as well as the histories of Philadelphia, William Penn and the Underground Railroad in Chester County. His interest in Pete Gray stems not only from his expertise on Eastern Pennsylvania history but a personal connection with the subject. When he was a young boy his father introduced the two, and Gray made a lasting impression upon the author. He set out to write a definitive biography of the man who had made such an impression on him, and spent seven years researching and interviewing in order to write "One-Armed Wonder: Pete Gray, Wartime Baseball, and the American Dream", which was published in 1995.

Extent

3.42 Linear Feet (in 4 document boxes and 1 flat box)

2.28 Cubic Feet

Abstract

A collection of correspondence, questionnaires, interviews and other research materials used by William Kashatus between 1977 and 1997 for the writing of "One-Armed Wonder: Pete Gray, Wartime Baseball, and the American Dream". Included are proofs, manuscripts, audio-taped interviews and a photograph, all regarding Pete Gray and Eastern Pennsylvania history. In 2022, a second donation was received which includes further materials related to Pete Gray, Philadelphia Athletics, and baseball in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. Also included are materials such as interview transcripts, clippings, and correspondence for three unpublished books.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into three series by subject matter. Series I Pete Gray, Series II Baseball in Pennsylvania, Subseries II.A Philadelphia Athletics, Subseries II.B Philadelphia Phillies, Subseries II.C General, Series III Unpublished Works, Series IV Photographs

Physical Location

Manuscript Archives: Aisle 10, Range d, Shelf 4, Aisle 2, Range b, Shelf 1. Photo Archives: Aisle 4, Range k, Shelf 5 Photo Cooler: Aisle 4, shelf 3 Recorded Media

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, (BL-2000-04309, BL-2000-04310, BL-2022-00347)

Processing Information

Materials were placed in acid-free folders and into document boxes. Collection was processed in 2000 and again in November 2022. Photographs and negatives that were received from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum were removed and an inventory was created to document that materials that were a part of his research materials. Books and periodicals were compared to our current library catalog and were returned to the donor. Titles were Philadelphia Athletics (Arcadia Publishing), Money Pitcher, Returning Lefty and Tim, Macho Row, 1995 Baseball Yearbook published by The Sporting News; and The One-Armed Wonder. Additional duplicate materials were removed from the White Elephants exhibit, Chief Bender, Diamonds from the Coal Field, and Pete Gray. All binders will be disassembled and put into acid free folders and document boxes.

Title
Guide to the William C. Kashatus research papers BA MSS 053
Status
Completed
Author
Adam Berenbak, Steele intern, reviewed by Claudette Scrafford.
Date
August 2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Revision Statements

  • November 2022: Materials accrued in 2022 were added and the finding aid data updated.
  • May 2023: Recorded Media materials were added and the finding aid was updated.

Repository Details

Part of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Archives Repository

Contact:
25 Main St.
Cooperstown NEW YORK 13326 USA