October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
Before free-agency liberated MLB players to negotiate for their services, they were subject to the reserve clause, which bound a player to negotiate only with the same team or ask to be traded or released. This 4-page, uniform player’s contract for NY Yankees outfielder Joe Pepitone has been signed and dated by him (Feb. 8, 1963). Pepitone signed in blue pen, along with American League President and Hall of Famer Joe Cronin. Yankees General Manager H. Roy Hamey also signed his name to the contract. Under the Special Covenants section is typed: “For each day this player, Joseph A. Pepitone, is on the Active Roster of the New York Yankees during the season of 1963, he is to be paid at the rate of $9,000 (NINE THOUSAND DOLLARS) for the season.” The contract includes some of Pepitone's personal information and has been folded to fit into an envelope. The back page has some aging stains across the bottom fold and at the top of the page. However, the document is intact and clean. This document provides a glimpse into the economics of MLB before its “Golden Era” transformed into the “Free-Market” era. Comes with a full LOA from PSA/DNA.