Simon sustained an injury to his hand but continued to play, earning him the respect of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Kenesaw Mountain Landis and others. However, after injuring his arm while playing for the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League Quincy Indians in 1932, he decided to retire from playing.
30 years later, his wife instructed the Baseball Hall of Fame to include in his commemoration, "Tell youngsters there is no sport with the possibilities of baseball – it truly is our national pastime. Every boy, rich or poor, has a chance to make something of himself. There are no barriers of race religion or education. If [the glove and bat] can put heart or courage in someone, it will have done double duty.”

Return to Syl Simon Autograph Profile