Circa 1903 New York Highlanders (Yankees) Stock Certificate - Scarce Unissued Example

Sold For:

$510

Year:

1903

Auction:

2019 Spring

Lot #:

1976

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Original unissued New York Highlanders stock certificate dating from the club’s 1903 inaugural season. As noted on the certificate, $100 would allow for the purchase of one share of capital stock in the “Greater New York Baseball Association.” This particular certificate is numbered “71,” and bears no signatures or any other typed or handwritten information. This is one of only a few unissued examples we have seen and just the second we have offered. The New York Highlanders were New York’s representative in the recently formed American League in 1903. In 1913 the team became known as the New York Yankees, but it wasn’t until Jacob Ruppert and Tillinghast L´Hommedieu Huston purchased the club in 1915 that the team began building what would soon become the greatest franchise in all of sports. The certificate (11.5 x 9.25 inches) displays a few very light creases in the corner areas and a miniscule edge tear in the lower right. Excellent condition overall. Reserve $300. Estimate (open).