Johnny Evers Collection
Johnny Evers Collection
The collection consists of personal items preserved by Johnny Evers and by his son, John J. Evers, Jr. Many of the items derive from the so-called European tour undertaken by Charles Comiskey, John McGraw, and members of the Chicago White Sox and New York Giants in 1924, in which Evers participated as manager of the White Sox. After playing five exhibition games in Canada, the entourage (which included family members of some players) sailed from Quebec to Liverpool, arriving on 22 October. Games were played at Liverpool on 23 October, and at London on 24 October and 6 November (the latter before the royal family). The teams then left for France, where they played at least one game before recrossing the Atlantic. The tour as originally planned was more extensive, but was cut short; it surely failed in its goal "to try and transplant America's game" to the visited countries. Items in the collection relating to the tour include a scrapbook of European newspaper and periodical clippings, photographs, a program and other ephemera, and Evers' uniform shirt and pants, specially made for the occasion. Other materials in the collection include several short manuscript letters to Evers; additional photographs (many from Evers' years with the Braves, and from later in life); five baseballs, including two team-signed balls of the 1914 Braves; and six medals and other bits of realia. There are also a number of books, including Evers' personal copy of Touching Second, bound in limp leather and stamped in gilt, with marbled endpapers. Also among the books are personal bound copies of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide (6 vols.: 1902-1904; 1905-1907; 1908-1910; 1908; 1913; 1915); The Reach Official American League Base Ball Guide (3 vols.: 1902-1904; 1905-1907; 1908-1910); and Spalding's Official Base Ball Record (1 vol.: 1908-1910). These volumes are not included in the container list below; they have been cataloged for the Rare Books collections.
- Conditions Governing Access
-
There are no access restrictions on this collection.
- Dates
- Creation: 1906-1976
- Extent
- 2 cubic feet (1 container and 3 flat storage containers)
- Related Names
- Evers, Johnny
- Boston Braves (Baseball team)
- Chicago Cubs (Baseball team)
- Chicago White Sox (Baseball team)
- Language of Materials
- English
I. Letters and Documents
Letter, Branch Rickey, Brooklyn, New York, to Johnny Evers, Albany, New York, 1945 July 12
Rickey, then president of the Dodgers, sends his regards.
- Dates
- Creation: 1945 July 12
Letter, Bill Klem, Miami, Florida, to Johnny Evers, n.p., 1946 March 23
By 1946 Klem had retired from a long major league umpiring career and was serving as Chief of Staff of the National League's umpires. He writes to thank Evers for a recently received birthday card.
- Dates
- Creation: 1946 March 23
Letter, Joe Tinker, n.p., to Johnny Evers, n.p., circa 1947
This undated note from Evers' old teammate must have been written in February or March of 1947, as it references the recent deaths of former Cubs Jimmy Sheckard (15 January 1947) and Johnny Kling (31 January 1947). Evers himself died on 28 March.
- Dates
- Creation: circa 1947
Letter, James A. Farley, New York, New York, to John J. Evers, Jr., Albany, New York, 1947 May 9
A letter of condolence to Evers' son from the prominent New York Democrat.
- Dates
- Creation: 1947 May 9
Signature of Johnny Evers, undated
Perhaps prepared for presentation signatures, with Evers' autograph in ink.
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Copy of the decision of Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis in re player E. C. Pitts, 1935 June 17
During Evers' tenure as general manager of the Albany club in the International League, he signed a man recently released from Sing Sing Prison, Edwin C. "Alabama" Pitts, to a player contract. The signing became a matter of considerable controversy, and was vetoed by the IL and the National Association before being upheld by Commissioner Landis.
- Dates
- Creation: 1935 June 17
II. Photographs
Photograph, Johnny Evers in Cubs uniform, holding bat, 1913
Photo of Evers as Cubs' player-manager in 1913 with Ever's signature in ink. Credit: Charles J. Conlon, Englewood, New Jersey.
- Dates
- Creation: 1913
Photograph, Johnny Evers and Joe Evers in baseball uniforms, 1913
Joe Evers (1891-1949), a younger brother of Johnny, played in a single game for the New York Giants in 1913.
- Dates
- Creation: 1913
Photograph, Johnny Evers and John J. Evers, Jr., circa 1914
This and the three photos following show Evers' young son in a baseball uniform, being instructed by his father in various aspects of play. Credit: American Press Ass'n.
- Dates
- Creation: circa 1914
Photograph, Johnny Evers and John J. Evers, Jr., circa 1914
Credit: Jack Williams, Boston.
- Dates
- Creation: circa 1914
Photograph, Johnny Evers and John J. Evers, Jr., circa 1914
Credit: Jack Williams, Boston.
- Dates
- Creation: circa 1914
Photograph, Johnny Evers and John J. Evers, Jr., circa 1915
Credit: Jack Williams, Boston.
- Dates
- Creation: circa 1915
Photograph, Boston Braves, 1914
Team photo of the World's Champions. Credit: International News Service.
- Dates
- Creation: 1914
Photograph, Johnny Evers receiving silver service from George Stallings, Evers Day, Boston, 1914 September 16
Credit: R.W. Sears, International News Service, Boston.
- Dates
- Creation: 1914 September 16
Photograph, Johnny Evers with silver service, Evers Day, Boston, 1914 September 16
Credit: Jack Williams, Boston.
- Dates
- Creation: 1914 September 16
Photograph, Johnny Evers receiving Chalmers automobil, circa 1914 October
From 1911 to 1914 the Chalmers Automobile Company presented a car to each major league's MVP; Evers won the National League award in 1914.
- Dates
- Creation: circa 1914 October
Photograph, Johnny Evers being mobbed by fans, 1914
- Dates
- Creation: 1914
Photograph, Johnny Evers and George Stallings on the bench, 1914-1915
- Dates
- Creation: 1914-1915
Photograph, Johnny Evers and Rabbit Maranville, Spring Training, Macon, Georgia, 1914-1915
Credit: W.W. Somers.
- Dates
- Creation: 1914-1915
Photograph, Red Smith, Rabbit Maranville, Johnny Evers, and Butch Schmidt, Spring Training, Macon, Georgia, 1915
Credit: W.W. Somers.
- Dates
- Creation: 1915
Photograph, Braves at Spring Training (including Johnny Evers, Hank Gowdy, Joe Connolly), Macon, Georgia, 1915
Credit: W.W. Somers.
- Dates
- Creation: 1915
Photograph, Johnny Evers and George Stallings, Spring Training, Macon, Georgia, 1915
Credit: W.W. Somers.
- Dates
- Creation: 1915
Photograph, Rabbit Maranville, George Stallings, Johnny Evers, Spring Training, Macon, Georgia, 1915
Credit: Jack Williams, Boston
- Dates
- Creation: 1915
Photograph, George Stallings with Braves players, Spring Training, Macon, Georgia, 1915
Credit: W.W. Somers.
- Dates
- Creation: 1915
Photograph, Joe Tinker, Solly Jofman, Johnny Evers, Frank Chance, undated
Credit: The Chicago Tribune.
- Dates
- Creation: undated
Photograph, Johnny Evers and Judge Landis, circa 1921
Credit: Herald Examiner.
- Dates
- Creation: circa 1921
Photograph, Johnny Evers and Judge Landis, circa 1921
Credit: International.
- Dates
- Creation: circa 1921
Photograph, John McGraw, Johnny Evers, Frank Chance, 1924
Credit: International Newsreel.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924
Photograph, Chicago White Sox and New York Giants, 1924 October 24
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour. Credit: International Newsreel.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 October 24
Photograph, King George V, Frank B. Kellogg, Queen Mary, London, 1924 November 6
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 November 6
Photograph, Chicago White Sox, London, 1924 November 6
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour. Credit: Universal Photographic Press, London.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 November 6
Photograph, King George V greeting Johnny Evers, London, 1924 November 6
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour. Credit: Universal Photographic Press, London.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 November 6
Photograph, King George V greeting Johnny Evers, London, 1924 November 6
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour. Credit: Universal Photographic Press, London.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 November 6
Photograph, King George V greeting White Sox players, London, 1924 November 6
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour. Credit: Topical Press Agency, London.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 November 6
Photograph, King George V greeting White Sox players, London, 1924 November 6
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour. Det. of 0502-34.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 November 6
Photograph, King George V greeting White Sox players, London, 1924 November 6
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour. Credit: Topical Press Agency, London.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 November 6
Photograph, King George V greeting White Sox players, London, 1924 November 6
New York Giants-Chicago White Sox 1924 European Tour. Credit: The Times, London.
- Dates
- Creation: 1924 November 6
Citation
Cite Item
MSSP 0015, Johnny Evers Collection, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame.
Cite Item Description
MSSP 0015, Johnny Evers Collection, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Hesburgh Libraries of Notre Dame. https://archivesspace.library.nd.edu/repositories/3/resources/1573 Accessed March 13, 2025.