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Lot 1
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Lot 1
Description: Important c.1897-99 Western League agreement establishing a salary cap to be overseen by Ban Johnson - signed by Charles Comiskey (twice), Ban Johnson, Connie Mack, and others (Sigs. NM-MT, Document EX) Important document appears to have originally been dated October 22, 1897 and later renewed through a series of handwritten revisions to date(s) with the latest being January 7, 1899. It has been signed by representatives from each team within the Western Association laying terms of a salary cap of $2,000 per month with responsibility for oversight, along with the powers needed to enforce, granted to League President Ban Johnson. A core of these men would, within a short period thereafter, reconstitute themselves as the "American League" and declare it an equal to the National League establishing the current system in place today. Total of (3) pages with the first (2) containing typewritten text of the agreement with several handwritten revisions to date(s) (original dates are from 1897 and 98). The third page has space for (6) participating club representatives to sign and additional signatures (7) appear on back of the second page. Signers, each of whom has handwritten the name of the club they represent and their position therein, include: Charles Comiskey whom has signed twice on behalf of St. Paul, Connie Mack on behalf of Milwaukee (this team would later become the Baltimore Orioles), Mathew Killilea also for Milwaukee ("M R Killilea") whom participated in the founding of the American League, Ban Johnson ("B.B. Johnson") on behalf of Grand Rapids, Tom Loftus (twice) for Columbus, James Manning for Kansas City and a player on numerous late 19th Century teams, James Franklin for Buffalo, Clarence Saulpaugh for Minneapolis, and George Vanderbeck (twice) on behalf of his Detroit club. Period fountain pen signatures rate 8 to 8/9 out of 10. Document itself has scattered wear/chipping to edges (small portion clipped off bottom of second page) with some very light toning/discoloration: Sigs. NM-MT, Document EX ($2,000-$4,000)Final Bid: $2,593.00
Current EST: 04/24/24 12:28:29 PM