1940's MAX LANIER'S ALL STARS BASEBALL PROGRAM ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/22/2012

MAX LANIER'S ALL STARS Souvenir Program. Believe this to be original and from the late 40's. Good condition, couple dog ears and there is a split in the lower stapled spine about 2" long. Lanier, along with a dozen other major leaguers, defected to the Mexican League in 1946 after being offered a salary nearly double what he was making with the Cardinals. Disappointed by poor playing conditions and allegedly broken contract promises, he tried to return to the Cardinals in 1948, but was barred by an order from commissioner Happy Chandler, imposing a five-year suspension on all players who had jumped to the Mexican League. In response, Lanier and teammate Fred Martin, as well as Danny Gardella of the New York Giants, sued Major League Baseball in federal court, challenging baseball's reserve clause as a violation of U.S. antitrust law (anticipating the similar suit by Curt Flood some 25 years later). The dispute was settled when Chandler lifted the suspensions in June 1949 and the players dropped their suits.