1926-1941 Charlie Grimm Chicago Cubs Contract Collection (15) - Player, Coach, and Managerial Contracts

Sold For:

$12,600

Year:

1926

Auction:

2021 Spring

Lot #:

2234

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

Collection of fifteen Chicago Cubs contracts between the club and Charlie Grimm. This collection spans the years 1927 to 1941, which covers all but Grimm's first year as a player with the team. It also covers his transition into a coach and manager for the Cubs. Each trifold pamphlet-style contract is signed by Grimm on the signature page. In most instances, Cubs President William Veeck has signed the contract for the club, but four other executives have also signed some of the contracts (as noted). The signature of John Heydler or Ford Frick, National League Presidents during this span, appears on the front of each contract, though several are stamped or secretarial (as noted). This collection consists of the following: 1926 (signed by Veeck as President, stamped Heydler on front), 1927 (signed by Veeck as President, stamped Heydler on front), 1929 (signed by Veeck as President, stamped Heydler on front), 1930 (signed by Veeck as President, secretarial Heydler on front), 1931 (signed by Veeck as President and Heydler on front), 1932 (signed by Veeck as President and Heydler on front), 1933 (signed by Veeck as President, secretarial Heydler on front), 1934 (signed by William Walker as President and Heydler on front), 1935 (signed by Phillip Wrigley as President, secretarial Frick on front), 1935 coach (signed by John O. Seys as Vice President, secretarial Frick on front), 1936 (signed by Phillip Wrigley as President and Frick on front), 1936 coach (signed by Phillip Wrigley as President and Frick on front), 1937 manager (signed by Phillip Wrigley as President and Frick on front), 1938 manager (signed by Phillip Wrigley as President and Frick on front), and 1941 coach (signed by James Gallagher as General Manager and Frick on front). All contracts remain in overall Very Good to Excellent condition (the 1936 coaching contract shows moderate creasing). This lot originates from the extraordinary collection of a longtime Chicago Cubs executive, Eldred "Salty" Saltwell, which is consigned to this auction by his family. The collection, which includes a remarkable array of contracts, checks, and other related documents and mementos, will be presented over a series of auctions and will offer publicly for the first time many significant items spanning decades of Chicago baseball. Total: 15 contracts. Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $200. Estimate (open).