October Legends
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2013
One of only a handful of Rogers Hornsby checks to survive the infamous Oriole Park Independence Day fire of 1944, this check was given to Hornsby for managing the Baltimore Orioles of the International League from May 1-May 16 in 1939. Apparently “The Rajah” was pulling in around $500 a week as this paycheck is for $990 with $10 being deducted for social security tax. After winning seven batting titles, and ripping his way to a .358 career batting average (2nd all-time behind only Ty Cobb), Hornsby was a player/manager for a few seasons before accepting the manager’s position with the O’s in 1939. Five years later, tragedy struck the city of Baltimore, when Oriole Park burned to the ground. The fire, rumored to be started by a discarded cigarette, took everything with it, including every piece of equipment, uniform, and valuable memento at the stadium. Somehow sneaking out of the inferno was this National Marine Bank check made out to Hornsby on May 15, 1939. The charred edges of the check add character and show how unlikely this piece of baseball history was to have escaped the blaze. Signed on front by team presidents John Ogden and Charles Knapp Jr, the check is endorsed for deposit on back by Hornsby himself in black fountain pen. Despite the charring, all 3 signatures remain intact and very legible. This incredibly rare check of one of baseball’s all-time great hitters has been encapsulated by PSA/DNA.