(LOT 112)
Extremely Rare 1890 Players' League Contract for Daniel Shannon
Presented here is one of the most amazing documents from this historical find, an actual 1890 Players' League contract for Daniel Shannon dated May 29, 1890! To date, we have never seen another Players' League contract, with this possible "one of a kind" artifact meriting Cooperstown stature. A Bridgeport resident of Fairfield County, Connecticut, Daniel Shannon's MLB career commenced in 1889 when the light-hitting middle infielder played in 121 games (540 plate appearances) for the American Association's Louisville Colonels, batting a respectable .257. Like so many of his peers, Shannon "jumped shipped" in 1890 to the newly formed Players' League, originally signing with the league's Philadelphia Athletics.

Shannon played in only 19 games for Philadelphia before being sent to the Limited's New York Giants squad in late May. Shannon did manage to finish the season with the Giants, partaking in 83 games while batting a measly .216. After the Players' League dissolved following the 1890 campaign, Shannon played one more MLB season with the Washington club of the American Association before hanging up his MLB spikes. Shannon did continue to play minor-league baseball from 1892 thru 1897 (primarily in the Eastern League with New Haven, Buffalo, Wilkes-Barre and Rochester clubs), and managed the Buffalo Bisons of the International League in 1899. Unfortunately for Shannon, due to his continued "drunkenness", he was fired by the owner that same season, retiring to his Bridgeport, CT. hometown where he sadly passed away at the tender age of 48.

The four-page contract presented here portrays itself in splendid fashion, sporting the typical 3 vertical folds seen on most vintage baseball contracts. The first page includes in typical style, Shannon's scripted information including name, Connecticut residence, New York Limited/New York info and a May 29, 1890 contract date. Shannon's N.Y. Giants contractual amount of "Twenty-Five Hundred" dollars ($2,500) is written directly beneath the mid-page header that reads: "Now Therefore, this Agreement witnesseth:". Also noted on page one is that the contract commences with an "ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT" header that stood as the cornerstone for the Players' League abiding rules (our winter auction presented a draft of the original nine-page Articles of Agreement document).

Daniel Shannon's signature is situated near the lower right edge on page three in bold black fountain pen ("8" strength), directly beneath E.B. Talcott's signature who served as the Vice-President and Treasurer of the New York's Limited organization. The standard back page (front page of contract when appropriately folded) portrays the following captions: "PLAYERS' CONTRACT As Adopted By The PLAYERS NATIONAL LEAGUE BASE BALL CLUBS. WITH Daniel Shannon/Bridegport Conn. (scripted in black fountain pen) Dated May 29th 1890 (likewise scripted in black fountain pen). In retrospect, while Shannon will certainly never be considered for Hall of Fame stature, his original signed New York Players' League contract offered here serves as a sensational 19th century relic. As previously stated, we have never encountered a single other contract from the upstart 1890 Players' League, with this museum worthy keepsake effectively turning back the clock to an era when Major League baseball players made their inaugural stance against a tyrannical ownership!

MIN BID $1,000
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