Among the greatest scandals to ever rock the sports world, the 1919 Black Sox scandal has been a source of fascination and debate among baseball fans for nearly a century now. Chicago White Sox players, including “Shoeless” Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, Happy Felsch, Chick Gandil, Swede Risberg, Buck Weaver, Fred McMullin and Lefty Williams were all implicated in throwing the 1919 World Series, allowing the Cincinnati Reds to win. All of the players were permanently banned from baseball by Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis.

Offered here is a fascinating piece of baseball history as this Chicago White Sox payroll check dates to that historic, if not infamous season and was made out to one of the perpetrators of the famed scandal Eddie Cicotte. This check was dated “8/1” of 1919 and was made out to “E. V. Cicotte” in the amount of “$476.25”. Printed in red is “-FOUR-HUNDRED SEVENTY-SIX-DOLLARS TWENTY-FIVE CENTS-“ and this check was drawn from “Drovers National Bank, Chicago” that is printed on the bottom and “CHAS. A. COMISKEY COMISKEY PARK” printed on the top. Charles Comiskey signed this check on the bottom right in bold black fountain pen and on the reverse is the signature of Ed Cicotte, who signed his name in black fountain pen on the top. The check has the cleared punch holes, none of which affect either Comiskey’s or Cicotte’s signature. This check has been authenticated and encapsulated by PSA/DNA (81738214) and has graded the signatures a MINT +9.5.