(LOT 1233)
Arthur H. Soden Signed 1890's Boston Baseball Association Pass – PSA/DNA LOA
Arthur H. Soden was one of our National Pastime's pioneer executives, with his major distinction being one of the new owners of the National Association's charter Boston club in 1876. Originally named the "Red Caps", in 1883 the team would change their name to the Beaneaters and retain that title until Soden sold the club after the 1906 campaign, whereby the team's new name would be the Boston Doves (eventually becoming the well-known Boston Braves). Soden would have a very successful career as the Beaneaters club owner/president, winning 5 pennants in an 8 year stretch from 1891 – 1898, with the vaulted Baltimore Orioles franchise capturing first place from 1894-1896. Born on April 23, 1843, Soden was a Civil war veteran, and temporarily claimed the title as National League President during the 1882 campaign. He would join forces with J.B. Billings in purchasing the Boston club in 1876 and became the team's official president in 1877.

Aside from his franchise's aforementioned success, in 1880 Soden was responsible for inventing the significant "reverse clause" whereby a player's contract would state that the club could reserve the player for the following season. Ultimately, this would lead to Soden playing a major role in the 1890 dispute between the NL and Player's League, with Soden bankrolling several clubs due to severe attendance reductions. The National League eventually prevailed, and when the Player's League folded after the 1890 season, Soden would own a majority of the renowned New York Giants franchise as well as his continued control of the Boston Beaneaters. His eventual demise was as a result of Ban Johnson's newly established American League in 1901, with many players "jumping ship" from the N.L. to the new American League in pursuit of more lucrative contracts. Soden's Boston club suffered vast casualties with an abundance of his players moving on to the upstart A.L.; the primary reason he would sell his franchise following the 1906 campaign.

Locating signed Soden artifacts is surely a painstaking chore, with this by-gone baseball executive passing away on August 25, 1925 at the age of 80. Courtesy of Memory Lane, presented here is an ultra-scarce c.1890s Boston Baseball Complimentary Pass that would admit anyone presenting it at the front gate (no specific individual is listed). Most significantly, it is boldly signed across the bottom "A.H. Soden - Prest", with the black fountain pen script depicting solid "9/10" strength. The vivid text on the pass clearly reads: "Complimentary Pass - Boston Baseball Association – The Director's reserve the right to revoke this pass on presentation at entrance." Other than some modest corner wear and some scattered soiling, the pass has remarkably remained in fine eye pleasing condition, stubbornly defying father time for the past 120+ years. Measuring approximately 4-1/2" x 2-3/4", it includes the autograph of one baseball's most significant 19th century owners, truly serving as an effective transient link to the origin of America's favorite pastime!

MIN BID $400
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