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Howard "Lefty" Blethen Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-2019-10-05

Scope and Contents

Sports artifacts related to Howard "Lefty" Blethen, including an autograph model football dedicated to Lefty Blethen in 1978, an SJSU President's Council paperweight from 1978, an SJSU Baseball Hall of Fame plaque, a 1987 World Series baseball autographed by the 6th Commisioner of Baseball Peter Ueberroth, and a baseball autographed by the 2001 SJSU baseball team for the dedication of Blethen Field.

Dates

  • Creation: 1978-2001

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright has been assigned to the San José State University Library Special Collections and Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital reproductions of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research and educational purposes.

Biographical / Historical

The materials in this collection were belongings of the first San Jose State University baseball player to play for a professional baseball team. Blethen attended San Jose State in 1932 and graduated with a degree in education in 1935. Blethen continued to star on local Bay Area amateur baseball teams thoughout the 1940s. Blethen remained connected with San Jose State as a board member of the San Jose State College Alumni Association in 1950, and served as its president in 1955. The SJSU baseball field was dedicated to Howard "Lefty" Blethen in 2001 after a donation from Fred and Sandra Blethen Chasalow. Blethen Field was used from 2001 to 2016.

Extent

1 Box (1 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

This collection of baseball memorabilia honors San Jose State University Hall of Fame baseball player Howard "Lefty" Blethen. Materials include two awards, two autographed baseballs, and one autographed football. The materials are dated between 1978 and 2001.

Processing Information

Collection processed by Michael Lara, and reviewed by Kate Steffens in 2021.

Title
Guide to the Howard "Lefty" Blethen Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by Michael Lara and reviewed by Kate Steffens.
Date
09/07/2021
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
(408) 808-2062
(408) 808-2063 (Fax)