[Big Six]

Office of the General Manager
Boston American League Baseball Club
Fenway Park
Boston, Massachusetts

Mr. Mike O'Farrell
287 10th Avenue, S.E.
Minneapolis, Minnesota

July 28, 1939

Dear Mike,

I just received a telegram from Donie Bush, informing me about the outstanding game you pitched this afternoon. Congratulations on your three-hit shutout, Son. Bush says you got ahead in the count against almost every batter you faced, and that your pitches had lots of movement. He also says that if you'd been facing big league hitters today, they wouldn't have done much with you, either.

I wanted to take the opportunity to explain to you more fully why we decided to send you back to Minneapolis. All of us--Bill Carrigan, myself, Moe Berg--were concerned about the fact that your mind didn't seem to be entirely on baseball. You told me yourself that you're "running with a different crowd," as you put it, and I would be failing you--as your general manager and, even more importantly--as your father if I didn't do anything in my power to help you see how these changes have affected you.

Mike, you have always been the kind of young man to whom people are naturally drawn. You have always had many friends who enjoy your company a great deal, and you enjoy them every bit as much.

In all honesty, I must also point out that you also have a history of allowing your desire for a good time to cloud your judgement. It happened occasionally when you were in college, and even before then. We both believed that tendency was a thing of the past, and I was sorry to see that it has resurfaced over the past few months. I know it must be difficult to be young and single, with well-wishers offering you a drink every time you turn around. However, if you truly wish for continued success as an athlete, you simply have to find a way to turn them down.

I am fully aware that there are bars and night clubs in Minneapolis, and I am sure some of your "fans" there will be more than happy to trade the price of a drink for an opportunity to spend time with you. I am also aware, however, that as the general manager of the Boston Red Sox, I cannot allow my parental feelings for you to stand in the way of what is best for the ball club. Right now, that means you'll pitch in Minneapolis until you demonstrate that you're ready to make the proper commitment to your baseball career.

That does not mean giving up football, Mike. It means giving up the night life.

Good luck, Son. I hope we'll see you back in Boston soon.

Love,
Dad