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Chandler Reserve Clause Lawsuits collection

 Collection
Identifier: BA MSS 109

Scope and Contents

This collection contains correspondence and legal documents of five separate lawsuits relating to the reserve clause. There were four against Happy Chandler, Commissioner of Baseball, American and National League presidents and the president of the National Association of Baseball Leagues. One lawsuit was against the New York Yankees. The four lawsuits against Chandler were filed by Danny Cordella, Fred Martin & Max Lanier, Jack Corbett & El Paso Baseball Club and Walter Kowalski. The NY Yankees were sued by George Toolson.

Dates

  • 1948-1954

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

Players on the reserve list signed to play in the Mexican League rather than sit. When they returned to the US, they learned that they had been banned from organized baseball for five years in violation of the reserve clause. Their suits claimed this violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Extent

1.04 Linear Feet (in 3 document boxes)

1.15 Cubic Feet

Abstract

This is a collection of correspondence, court documents and newspaper clippings relating to the lawsuits against A.B. Chandler et al. and the New York Yankees.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged by lawsuit, in chronological order.

Physical Location

Manuscript Archives, Aisle 9, Range d, Shelf 3

Title
Guide to the Chandler Reserve Clause Lawsuits collection BA MSS 109
Status
Completed
Author
Claudette Scrafford, Manuscript Archivist
Date
November 2010, with updates in February 2014
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.

Repository Details

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

Contact:
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Cooperstown NEW YORK 13326 USA