DATE: 1947 ORIGINAL or REPRINT: Original - Printed from the original negative in the time period in which it was shot TEAM: Chicago Cubs SUBJECTS: Billy Jurges, Milt Stock, Augie Galan APPROXIMATE SIZE: 8-1/8"x10" NUMBER OF PHOTOS: 1 COMMENTS / CONDITION: This is one of a number of photos to be offered which hail from the personal collection of All-Star player and manager Eddie Stanky. Wear on these, if any, is mostly confined to minor corner and edge wear, but see scans for further details including condition. We do not deal in stock images or modern reprints, and all scans shown are of the actual vintage photograph, slide or negative being sold. If you have any questions about a particular piece, please ask before the auction ends. BIO: William Frederick Jurges was born in Bronx, NY and died in 1997 in Clearwater, FL. He played major league baseball from 1931 to 1947 as infielder for the Chicago Cubs and the New York Giants, appeared in the 1932, 1935 and 1938 World Series, and was selected 3 times as an All-Star. On July 6, 1932, Violet Valli, a showgirl with whom Jurges was romantically linked, tried to kill Jurges at the Hotel Carlos, where both lived. Jurges had previously tried to end their relationship. Valli (born Violet Popovich) also left a suicide note in which she blamed Cubs outfielder Kiki Cuyler for convincing Jurges to break up with her. Although initial reports stated that Jurges was shot while trying to wrestle the gun from Valli, later reports, based on Valli's suicide note, stated that she was trying to kill Jurges as well as commit suicide. This incident would form the basis for Bernard Malamud's novel The Natural. A week after the shooting, charges were dismissed against Valli when Jurges appeared in court and announced that he would not testify and wished to drop the charges. Valli was later involved in a lawsuit when she sued a real estate developer who was blackmailing her by threatening to release letters in which Valli threatened Jurges. After leaving the Cubs in 1948, Jurges managed briefly in the farm systems of the Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Braves, before returning to the coaching ranks with the original Washington Senators franchise in 1956. In July 1959, still a Washington coach, he was named the surprise manager of the Boston Red Sox, who had fired Pinky Higgins. Jurges was able to rally Boston in '59: the Bosox won 44 of 80 games under him, improving from eighth to fifth place, and finally broke the color line with the promotion of Pumpsie Green from AAA. Milton Joseph Stock was born in Chicago, IL and died in 1977 in Fairhope, AL. He played major league baseball from 1913 to 1926 as infielder for the New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and the Brooklyn Robins. After his playing career ended, he remained in the game as a minor league manager and executive. From 1944 through 1952, Stock coached in the National League for the Chicago Cubs (1944-48), Dodgers (1949-50) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1951-52). Stock was the father in law of Eddie Stanky, the longtime MLB second baseman and manager, who played under Stock in the Cub farm system. August John Galan was born in 1912 in Berkeley, CA and died in 1993 in Fairfield, CA. He played major league baseball from 1934 to 1949 as outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, New York Giants and the Philadelphia Athletics, appeared in the 1935, 1938 and 1941 World Series, and was selected 3 times as an All-Star. SKU: XP12417
Item: XP12417
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