| SIGNER: Joe Schultz Jr APPROXIMATE SIZE: 3-1/2'x5-1/2" MARKS / STAMPING: Hand-signed by Joe Schultz Jr ORIGINAL or REPRINT: Original COMMENTS / CONDITION: Standard 3-1/2''x5-1/2'' postcard (featuring the ''Sand Lot Kid'' statue at Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY on the front) which has been hand-signed by Joe Schultz Jrcollector. Comes from a collection of signed postcards assembled by a collector in the late 1980s-early 1990's (judging by the signers). All autographs in this particular collection are on the same medium: a photo postcard of the "Sand Lot Kid" statue outside Doubleday Field in Cooperstown, NY. Some of the players signed the front (photo) side of the postcard, some the back, and a few signed both sides (just to be sure). The name and rookie year of the player is pencilled on the back of each card, assumedly by the collector. For the sake of time, only the signature side of each card has been scanned. If you need to see the other side, please let me know. As with all of my signed items, the signature is guaranteed to pass further inspection by any major authenticator, or your money back. See scans for signature quality and photo condition. BIO: Joseph Charles Schultz Jr. (Dode) was born in 1918 in Chicago, IL and died in 1996 in St.Louis, MO. He played major league baseball from 1939 to 1948 as catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the St. Louis Browns. In 1949, Schultz served as a coach with the Browns, and then managed in the minor leagues from 1950-62, returning to the Cardinals' organization in 1958. He became a Redbird coach in 1963 and worked with three National League pennant winners (1964, 1967 and 1968), and two world championship clubs (1964, 1967) through 1968.Schultz also served as a third-base coach for the Kansas City Royals in 1970 and the Detroit Tigers from 1971-76. The success of the Cardinals led to Schultz's 1969 opportunity with the Pilots. But the team (which played at a minor league facility) had stadium problems and an unstable, undercapitalized ownership. It was outdrafted by its fellow expansion team, the Kansas City Royals, during the player selection lottery, and finished in last place in the new American League West division, with a mark of 64-98 (.395). The Pilots' on-field struggles were dwarfed by the team's ownership and financial problems during the off-season and 1970 spring training, however. With the new season fast approaching, the Pilots were purchased by a group headed by Bud Selig and transferred to Milwaukee, where they have remained since. Schultz was released as manager as the team struggled in limbo during the 1969-70 offseason. He coached with the Royals (1970) and the Detroit Tigers (1971-76) before leaving baseball. He compiled a 14-14 mark as acting manager of the 1973 Tigers, replacing the fired Billy Martin, giving him a career record of 78-112 (.411) as a major league skipper. Apart from that assignment, Schultz never managed in the majors again after the Pilots collapsed. His career may not have been helped by an unflattering portrayal of him in Ball Four, the controversial memoir of the '69 season by Seattle pitcher Jim Bouton that was released in 1970. Bouton tells humorous anecdotes about Schultz and some of the motivational speeches he gave to the Pilots. The author claims that Schultz was well liked by his team, but some of his choices were questioned by the players. In a later anthology on managers Bouton edited, I Managed Good, But Boy Did They Play Bad, however, Bouton noted Schultz's sense of humor and added that, given the circumstances of the last-place team, "I couldn't have had a better manager than Joe Schultz." Joe was the son of Joe Schultz Sr., and the cousin of Frank Lobert and Hans Lobert. SKU: L08539
Item: L08539
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