(LOT 11)
Surety Bond Put Up by Cleveland Organization & Blank Surety Bond Form
This lots offers a surety bond executed by the Cleveland team organization to provide, as specified in the Articles of Agreement (Lot#7), a fund insuring the payment of all player's salaries by the League in the event that a particular team or teams was unable to do so (the next two lots likewise offer surety bonds for the Pittsburgh and Buffalo team organizations). Along with the completed Cleveland surety bond, a blank bond form is also included. This auction's enclosed Articles of Agreement (lot#7) specified that each team would pay to the League Treasurer, by April 1, 1890, $5,000 to comprise this insurance fund.

However, the Players' League Board of Directors must have amended the terms originally proposed in the Articles of Agreement because in lieu of an actual payment, it was decided that a $10,000 surety bond (that could be drawn upon if there was a player salary issue), would suffice. The Players' National League Company of Ohio had its' bond guaranteed by Albert Loftin Johnson, the President of the Cleveland organization and a Mid-West street car magnate, H.J. Davies, also a railroad investor. Both of their bold black fountain pen signatures are included on the last page as well as the Players' National League 1889 Cleveland, Ohio embossed seal affixed to the right of the signatures.

MIN BID $500
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