University Libraries
Play Ball!
By Maureen Schlangen
In celebration of major league baseball's opening day March 28, University of Dayton senior Will Sautter, who works part time in University Archives and Special Collections, curated a display of baseball artifacts from the Miriam Jacobs collection.
Below is a selection of objects from the display, now on view in the University Archives on the second floor of Albert Emanuel Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment.
For information or to see other items in the collection, contact University archivist Kristina Schulz at 937-229-4256 or archives@udayton.edu.
about the display's curator
Sautter, an English major with a film studies minor, lives in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He pitched and played first base for 12 years and was an umpire in high school. He graduates from UD in May but is holding off on announcing his employment plans, as he and the New York Mets have not yet agreed on a contract for him to join the team as a two-way player.
'What's a two-way player?'
"A two-way player," Sautter says, "is someone who both pitches and plays another position regularly. Babe Ruth is the best known example of this, although he famously switched from being a pitcher to being a right fielder. Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is a pitcher and a designated hitter. He won the American League Rookie of the Year Award for this past season. More teams are experimenting with the possibility of having two-way players on their roster."
If the Mets do discover Sautter, they'll also discover that he can do a lot more than baseball.
Rookie Card: Frank Robinson, 1957
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
This is the rookie card for the great Frank Robinson, who played the first half of his career with the Cincinnati Reds. Robinson, who died Feb. 7, 2019, was one of the top sluggers in baseball history. The only player to win the Most Valuable Player award in both the National and American leagues, Robinson would go on to become the first African-American manager in MLB history.
Rookie Card: Frank Robinson, 1957
This is the rookie card for the great Frank Robinson, who played the first half of his career with the Cincinnati Reds. Robinson, who died Feb. 7, 2019, was one of the top sluggers in baseball history. The only player to win the Most Valuable Player award in both the National and American leagues, Robinson would go on to become the first African-American manager in MLB history.
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
Ticket to Reds Opening Day, 1951
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
Opening day ticket: April 16, 1951, Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds lost 4-3.
Ticket to Reds Opening Day, 1951
Opening day ticket: April 16, 1951, Cincinnati Reds vs. Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds lost 4-3.
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
Baseball Card: Bob Feller, 1953
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
Almost all of the autographed cards in the Jacobs collection are in the 1953 Topps set; among them are four eventual Hall of Famers, including Bob Feller. Pitching for his entire career with the Cleveland Indians, Feller was a fastball phenom when he made his debut at age 17. In 1948, he helped lead the Indians to the World Series, the last year they won.
Baseball Card: Bob Feller, 1953
Almost all of the autographed cards in the Jacobs collection are in the 1953 Topps set; among them are four eventual Hall of Famers, including Bob Feller. Pitching for his entire career with the Cleveland Indians, Feller was a fastball phenom when he made his debut at age 17. In 1948, he helped lead the Indians to the World Series, the last year they won.
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
Baseball Card: Cy Young, 1909-11
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
The namesake of the award for each league’s best pitcher in a season, Cy Young is widely considered one of baseball’s greatest pitchers. Young is particularly noteworthy for some of the career records he holds, including 511 wins, 316 losses, 749 complete games, and 25.1 consecutive hitless innings pitched. This card, printed between 1909 and 1911, is classified as T-206 Cy Young Piedmont 150.
Baseball Card: Cy Young, 1909-11
The namesake of the award for each league’s best pitcher in a season, Cy Young is widely considered one of baseball’s greatest pitchers. Young is particularly noteworthy for some of the career records he holds, including 511 wins, 316 losses, 749 complete games, and 25.1 consecutive hitless innings pitched. This card, printed between 1909 and 1911, is classified as T-206 Cy Young Piedmont 150.
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
Nap Lajoie and Cy Young
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
In this photo are two of baseball’s all-time greats, second baseman Nap Lajoie, left, and pitcher Cy Young, both inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937. The two were teammates from 1909 to 1911 for the Cleveland Naps.
Nap Lajoie and Cy Young
In this photo are two of baseball’s all-time greats, second baseman Nap Lajoie, left, and pitcher Cy Young, both inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1937. The two were teammates from 1909 to 1911 for the Cleveland Naps.
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
1939 World Series Ticket: Game 4
From the Miriam Jacobs collection
This ticket — one of two in the collection — was for the fourth and final game of the 1939 World Series. The New York Yankees would win the game and sweep the Cincinnati Reds.
1939 World Series Ticket: Game 4
This ticket — one of two in the collection — was for the fourth and final game of the 1939 World Series. The New York Yankees would win the game and sweep the Cincinnati Reds.
From the Miriam Jacobs collection