Michael Jordan & Summer Premium Auction Closing July 18 10PM Eastern
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/18/2020
The 1927 New York Yankees put together one of the best seasons in Major League Baseball history, going 110-44 in the regular season before eventually sweeping the Pittsburgh Pirates for the World Series title. The 1927 Yanks were fueled by their famed “Murderer’s Row” lineup consisting of Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Bob Meusel and Tony Lazzeri. Throw in Hall of Fame pitchers Herb Pennock and Waite Hoyt, and it’s no wonder the Bronx Bombers dominated in such grand fashion.
Offered here is an incredible signed Babe Ruth item – an official New York Yankees payroll check. This 9 x 3 ¼-inch check was dated June 30, 1927 for the amount of $6,190.76 and Ruth signed his name “Geo. H. Ruth” in bold black pen on the back. A very rare occurrence to find a Ruth signature without the customary “Babe”. Ruth’s 1927 contract paid him $70,000.00, which is equivalent to approximately $1,031,000 in today’s money. The check has “THE AMERICAN LEAGUE BASE BALL CLUB OF NEW YORK, INC.” printed on the top on the front along with the pre-printed check number line that has “10308” printed in blue.
The back of the check, in addition to Ruth’s rare “Geo. H. Ruth” signature, has printed “Salary 6/16 to 30 inc. 6190 76”. In addition to Ruth’s signature, this check also includes the signatures of Yankees’ owner and Hall of Famer Jacob Ruppert, who signed his name in large bold black pen on the bottom right corner on the pre-printed “PRESIDENT” line and the signature of Hall of Famer Ed Barrow, who was the equivalent of the general manager for the Yankees in 1927. Barrow’s signature has been signed vertically on the “COUNTERSIGNED” line on the left side of the check. This multi-signed check is in good condition with the only discernible marks coming from the “PAID *7*27*27” holes from when the check was deposited. Only 3 of the punch holes affect the signature. Two of them are on the “H.” and one of them are on the bottom of the “R”. This comes with a LOA from JSA for the signatures and has been encapsulated by PSA/DNA (84209441).