“Most of the black ballplayers thought Monte Irvin should have been the first black in the major leagues. Monte was our best young ballplayer at the time - He could hit that long ball, he had a great arm, he could field, he could run. Yes, he could do everything.” - Cool Papa Bell One of the finest African-American players in the years preceding integration, Monte Irvin fashioned a career of dual excellence in both the Negro leagues and the major leagues. This collection has a signed Christmas card from Duke Ellington to Monte Irvin, six letters of congratulations to him (from HOFer Judy Johnson, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, Buck Leonard, Everett D. Barnes(2) and E. J. Bavasi) for his being accepted into the Hall of Fame, and ten B+W photos of Irvin in action.