[Baseball Hall of Fame] Manuscript Casey at the Bat: The Story of My Life in Baseball as told to Harry T. Paxton.

Item Details

[Baseball Hall of Fame] Manuscript Casey at the Bat: The Story of My Life in Baseball as told to Harry T. Paxton

Typed manuscript appears to be a very clean copy with scattered manuscript notes in pencil and some already in the copy. Paper clipped. Leaves lightly toned. Very good condition. 

Uncorrected proof shows foxing along bottom edge and small abrasion to front cover. No notes inside. Very good condition. 

The original mailing envelope also has some handwritten notes from Casey. Envelope itself in fair condition with tears along all edges. 

An intriguing inside look at the creation of the definitive Casey Stengel autobiography. Lot includes five chapters (of six) of an original copy manuscript from the hands of The Saturday Evening Post reporter and Stengel's "ghost writer" Harry T. Paxton. Each chapter is stamped with the date and the Post's name on the first page. Included is the plastic bound uncorrected proof of the book direct from Random House which may have been Stengel's last chance to read and make corrections or suggestions before going to print. 

Typed manuscript copy, 5 of the 6 chapters of Casey Stengel's autobiography Casey Stengel: My Own Story, as told to Harry T. Paxton, 89 pages, 1961. Some handwritten corrections and notes in pencil likely by Stengel. This is a 6-part weekly serial in the Saturday Evening Post published as “At Bat Casey Stengel My Own Story" on September 16, 1961, and "My Own Story" published September 23, 30, October 7 and October 14, 1961. These were published as a condensed version of the book Casey at the Bat. Which was published in 1961.

Interestingly, Stengel used the back of the final page of Chapter Five to make some handwritten notes of a very personal nature, with partial text reading "Sign contract; but if my health or setback would arise up to two months of the opening of the season would resign...prefer not to sign and retire from active managing (sic)." For context, Stengel's glory years as a manager was 1949 to 1953 when Stengel's Yankees won the World Series five consecutive times, a feat never surpassed. Stengel lost his job after the 1960 World Series, despite taking the Yankees to the World Series losing to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 7 games as Bill Mazeroski hit his infamous series winning ninth-inning home run. 
Stengel's manuscript notes must refer to an offer from the expansion New York Mets to manage their inaugural season in 1962. Stengel would accept their offer and would manage four more years. The Mets lost 120 games in 1962; a record held for most losses in a season until 2024 when the Chicago White Sox lost 121 games. 

Includes 'Letter of Authenticity' from Heritage Sports Collectibles from the daughter of Stengel's long-time caregiver.

A great collection once handled by the great Casey Stengel.