1917 to 1921 Chicago Cubs Payroll Check Collection (38)

Collection of thirty-eight Chicago Cubs payroll checks issued between the years 1917 and 1921. The signatures of four different Cubs front-office executives appear, respectively, on the front of the checks: Charles Weeghman (1917), Walter Craighead (six, all from 1918), John O Seys (nine, six from 1919, one from 1920, and two from 1921), and William Veeck (22, nine from 1919 and thirteen from 1920). The signatures are scripted in either blue or black fountain pen. The checks are made out to (and endorsed on the reverse by) the following players (breakdown by year): 1917 (1): Wortman (7/31). 1918 (6): Zeider (4/30), Elliott (5/11), Barber (8/15), Knabe (8/15), Mann (8/15), and Hendrix (8/24). 1919 (15): Flack (4/9), Lear (4/9), Vaughn (4/30), O'Farrell (4/30), Douglas (5/31), Kilduff (6/1), Paskert (6/30), Pick (7/11), Bailey (7/15), Tyler (7/15), Merkle (7/15), Hollocher (7/15), Killefer (9/1), Newkirk (9/1), and Magee (9/4). 1920 (14): Deal (3/17), Marriot (4/15), Gaw (4/30), Turner (5/15), Daly (6/30), Robertson (6/30), Carter (7/15), Friberg (7/31), Jaeger (7/310, Terry (7/15), Herzog (8/31), Twombly (8/31), Martin (8/31), and Jones (9/30). 1921 (2): Weaver (4/21) and Cheeves (4/26). The checks (8.25 x 3.75 inches) all display normal bank cancellation stamps and holes. Flaws included but not limited to: edge tears, folds, and creases. In Good to Very Good condition overall. 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: 38 checks. Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $1,000.

Fall 2022 - Item detail

1917 to 1921 Chicago Cubs Payroll Check Collection (38)