Lot # 13: Henry Louis Gehrig Signed Payroll Check, From the New York Yankees – Includes Signatures from Ed Barrow & Jacob Ruppert from 1930 PSA/DNA (Video Testimonial)

Category: Cancelled Checks

Starting Bid: $5,000.00

Bids: 8 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "20th Anniversary Auction",
which ran from 9/18/2020 4:30 PM to
10/10/2020 7:00 PM




(LOT 13)
Henry Louis Gehrig Signed Payroll Check, From the New York Yankees – Includes Signatures from Ed Barrow & Jacob Ruppert - Dated June 16, 1930 – PSA/DNA Authentication & Encapsulation

Signed Lou Gehrig artifacts continue to reside as one of the hobby's premier collectibles, with an endorsed Gehrig payroll check easily standing tall as one of his pinnacle scripted mementos. Issued to Lou Gehrig on a bi-monthly basis, these payroll checks seldom surface for the taking, with their utmost desirability stemming from the fact that they typically include a "Henry Louis Gehrig" full name script on the verso. Unfortunately, a majority of the few Gehrig payroll checks that do surface for the taking are riddled with bank cancellation punch holes that tend to interfere with the hallowed Gehrig endorsement. Presented here just happens to be one of those extremely scarce Lou Gehrig payroll checks, a remarkable June 16, 1930 heirloom that accounts for Gehrig's Yankees salary from June 1st – June 16th. Payable to "Henry Louis Gehrig" in the amount of $2,298.12, in standard fashion it has been signed by legendary Yankees team Owner/President Colonel Jacob Ruppert in the lower right section as well as General Manager Ed Barrow in the ''Counter-signed" left region. Like all N.Y. Yankees payroll checks, the salary will be drawn from the Manufacturing Trust Company, with the verso revealing the hallowed "Henry Louis Gehrig" endorsement signature penned in standard black fountain pen. Most significantly, unlike the majority of known Gehrig payroll checks including punch holes through a portion of the critical autograph, this incredible offering's bank cancellation holes do NOT impede the Henry Louis Gehrig script whatsoever, with the bold script including a somewhat smudged "H" in Henry and a light "G" in Gehrig.

Otherwise, the ink strength is a solid "8", surviving the past 90 years to retain most of its original black ink aesthetics. Directly above Gehrig's sanctified signature is a typed notation indicating the $2,298.12 amount is Lou's payroll from June 1st – June 15th. The overall condition of the check is outstanding, atypically eluding any of the standard tears, heavy creases or stock loss commonly evident on these highly coveted thin-stock treasures (only a negligible/light central fold and some toning within the upper right quadrant is evident with neither flaw impeding any of the three prominent signatures – Gehrig, Barrow or Ruppert). Throughout the 1930's, Gehrig's annual salary varied between $30,000 - $39,000 per season, a significant lower amount versus the $80,000 paid to his majestic teammate George Herman Ruth. A bona-fide bargain, the 1930 campaign would see Gehrig wear out American League hurlers to the tune of a .379 batting average (the highest in his career), 41 round-trippers, 173 runs batted in and an unfathomable 1.198 OPS! Indeed, although Gehrig was earning less than half of the Babe's salary, in a few years he would surpass the aging Ruth in offensive production. Only four years later Gehrig would capture the illustrious 1934 "Triple Crown", leading the Junior Circuit in Home Runs, Batting Average and RBI's. Yet, as imposing as his statistical achievements truly were, he will always be best remembered for his miraculous 2,130 consecutive game streak that ultimately ended due to the ill effects of the tragic ALS disease that claimed his life at the tender age of 37. For all of his world-class achievements and beloved persona, the "Yankee Captain" will forever stand as one of our National Pastime's foremost immortals, with this extremely obscure and valuable 1930's endorsed payroll check sufficing as one of the "Iron Horse's" most revered keepsakes extant!

MIN BID $5,000
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