2019 Winter Auction Closing March 2
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/2/2019
Presented here is the 1959 Uniform Player’s Contract between the Hall of Fame third baseman Eddie Mathews and the Milwaukee Braves. Mathews, approaching his eighth MLB season, was already a five-time All-Star and the 1953 National League home run leader. Mathews led the Majors in home runs during the 1959 campaign, crushing 46 longballs, while hitting for a career-best .306 average with 114 RBI and 118 runs. Mathews made both All-Star Games in 1959 and finished second in the National League MVP race. The Texarkana native played a total of 17 MLB seasons, including 15 with the Braves, and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1978.
This contract was signed on the 12th of January, 1946, by Mathews, National League President Warren Giles, and Braves General Manager John J. Quinn. This is likely one of the final contracts signed by Quinn, who resigned to take over the GM position with the Philadelphia Phillies on January 14th. The contract is for the value of $50,000 and it has been signed by all parties in blue pen. This contract comes with a LOA from JSA (Z67419).