Bible signed by 1953 Pirates turns up in Sacramento library

January 28, 2013

Some people make it their duty to find treasure in heaps of forgotten items, while others come across these items purely by chance.

So is the case of Joanne Murphy, an antiquarian book repairer in Sacramento, Calif., who found a bible adorned with 31 signatures on the first page.

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The signatures were those of the 30 members of the 1953 Pirates and their manager Fred Haney. The bible was then presented to general manager Branch Rickey -- possibly as a consolation prize for the 50-104 record the club recorded that season.

It is still unknown how the bible made its way to California, but what is known is that it will be on display next month at the central branch of the Sacramento Public Library in honor of Black History Month.

Rickey, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967, is perhaps best known for signing Jackie Robinson to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

-- Andrew LeRay / MLB.com