1931 Lefty Gomez Signed New York Yankees Contract - First Full Major League Season

Sold For:

$11,400

Year:

1931

Auction:

2014 Fall

Lot #:

712

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

Four-page fold-over contract, dated March 2, 1931, between Lefty Gomez and the American League Base Ball Club of New York, signed in black fountain pen by both "Vernon Gomez" (grading "10") and Jacob Ruppert ("10"), owner of the Yankees (Ruppert's signature has been penned by Ed Barrow, general manager of the club, as noted by the circled "B" after the signature). Also signed in black fountain pen ("10") by Ernest Barnard in his capacity as American League president. The one-year agreement calls for Gomez to receive a yearly salary of $4,000. 1931 marked Gomez's first full season with the Yankees. After going 2-5 in 15 starts in 1930, Gomez rebounded the following year with his first of four twenty-win seasons with the "Bronx Bombers." Gomez finished the 1931 season with 21 wins and a 2.67 ERA. For the next ten seasons he remained one of the team's top pitchers, leading the club to five World Championships over that span. He was also the starting pitcher for the American League in the first All-Star Game in 1933. Gomez finished his career with 182 wins and a lifetime ERA of 3.34. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1972. Baseball contracts of Hall of Fame players, especially those dating from their respective playing careers are rare and the offered example is no exception. To the best of our knowledge this is the earliest Lefty Gomez New York Yankees contract extant and we can recall having seen only two others at public auction. The contract (8.5 x 11 inches) displays two horizontal folds and is in Excellent condition overall. LOA from James Spence/JSA. SOLD FOR $11,400