2019 Summer Premium Live and Catalog Auction Lots 1-82 Close Aug 1- 83-end close 8/10

Lot #87: 1927 Lou Gehrig Signed New York Yankees Payroll Check May 31, 1927 (MVP Season) (PSA/DNA & JSA)

Description

Lou Gehrig emerged in 1927 as one of the game’s preeminent sluggers. Gehrig's 47 home runs were the second most in the Major Leagues in 1927. Babe Ruth had established an unimaginable long-ball standard and, outdoing that, Gehrig was named the league's Most Valuable Player. Gehrig hit .373 along with the 47 home runs to win the MVP Award as the Yankees swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the World Series.

Offered here is an incredible signed Lou Gehrig item – an official New York Yankees payroll check. This 9 x 3 ¼-inch check was dated May 31, 1927 for the amount of $1385.04 and Gehrig signed his name “Louis Gehrig” in bold black pen on the back. Gehrig’s 1927 contract paid him $8,000.00, which is equivalent to approximately $117,000 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 “10154” printed in blue.

The back of the check, in addition to Gehrig’s distinctive signature, has printed “Salary for month May 1415 04 Less Unif. Dep. 30 00 1385 04”. In addition to Gehrig’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 *6*4*27” holes from when the check was deposited. This comes with a LOA from JSA (Z86412) for the signatures and has been encapsulated by PSA/DNA (84159227).

Final Bid (Includes Buyers Premium):$28,800
Minimum Bid:$10,000
Number of Bids:12