The classic oral history of deadball era baseball The Glory of Their Times by Lawrence Ritter is perhaps the greatest book ever assembled about the early game. Featuring stories and anecdotes from the era's great players, in their own words, the book itself has yielded a treasure trove of collecting opportunities, from card collecting subsets to autograph collections, to memorabilia related to the book itself. 

Over the years, a variety of correspondence between Ritter and the players he interviewed, along with canceled royalty checks, have found their way into the hobby.  These pieces always attract collector interest, partially because of the quality of players Ritter interviewed, and partially due to their connection with the book itself. Unquestionably, players featured in the book have higher profiles in the hobby as a result.

Offered is a collection of six (actually, seven) pieces signed by players and directly related to the book.  Included are three letters, and three canceled checks.  A description is as follows: 1) Rube Marquard Letter: 1972 letter from Rube Marquard to Ritter, exchanging pleasantries and adding "I have been getting so many letters for the kids for my autograph and I answer every one." Marquard's signature here is clean and unblemished, signed in black fiber-tip marker.  2) Stan Covaleski Letter: Two-page 1966 letter from Stan Covaleski to Ritter, commenting on his Hall of Fame selection, thanking him for the free books, and asking Ritter for an autographed photo! Coveleski wrote in black ballpoint, the signature clean and unblemished. 3) Tommie Leach Letter: 1964 letter from Tommy Leach to Ritter, generally exchanging pleasantries. Leach wrote in blue ballpoint, the letter clean and legible, the signature slightly encroaching on its salutation. 4) Goose Goslin Check: 1970 check to Goose Goslin for royalties, endorsed on the reverse by Goslin. The signature is relatively clean, some of the cancellation stamp encroaches slightly but the signature (Leon A. Goslin) is legible. 5) Harry Hooper Check: 1969 check to Hooper for royalties, endorsed on the reverse by Hooper. Signed in blue ballpoint, the cancellation stamp encroaches upon and obscures part of the signature.  6) Al Bridwell Check: 1967 check to Bridwell for royalties, endorsed in ballpoint by Bridwell. Signature is clean and unblemished, though the check does exhibit some light wrinkling.  

An exceptional grouping including signatures of four Hall of Famers, each relating directly to the outstanding book The Glory of Their Times. Six pieces total.