1917 to 1920 Chicago Cubs Payroll Check Collection (65) Including John Driscoll Signature (Football HOF)

Sold For:

$6,600

Year:

1917

Auction:

2022 Spring

Lot #:

2257

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

Collection of sixty-five Chicago Cubs payroll checks issued between the years 1917 and 1920, including the signature of football Hall of Famer John "Paddy" Driscoll (deceased 1968). The signatures of four different Cubs front-office executives appear, respectively, on the front of the checks: Charles Weeghman (9, all from 1917), Walter Craighead (8, all from 1918), John O Seys (7, four from 1919 and three from 1920), and William Veeck (41, thirty from 1919 and eleven 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 (9): Dilhoffer (7/31), Demaree (7/31), Doyle (7/31), Driscoll (7/31, football HOF), Prendergast (7/31), F. Williams (7/31), Wolter (7/31), Wilson (7/31), and Yerkes (7/31). 1918 (8): C.C. Williams (3/31), Pechous (4/30), Walter (5/15), Wortman (5/15), Walker (5/28), Napier (8/15), Clark (8/15), and Zeider (8/15). 1919 (34): Elliot (2/24), Pick (3/29), Douglas (4/8), Aldridge (4/16), Kilduff (4/17), Weaver (5/14), Vaughn (5/15), Killefer (5/15), Flack (6/30), Deal (6/30), Douglas (6/30), Knabe (7/15), Vaughn (7/15), Magee (7/31), Tyler (7/31), Merkle (7/31), O'Farrell (7/31), Paskert (7/31), Hollocher (7/31), Mann (8/3), Newkirk (8/15), Lear (8/15), Robertson (8/15), Herzog (8/15), Hendriz (8/15), Bailey (8/15), Berber (8/15), Carter (8/15), Daly (8/15), Turner (8/16), Brown (8/16), McCabe (9/1), Martin (9/29), and Friberg (9/26). 1920 (14): Turner (3/6), Twombly (4/15), Marriot (4/30), Weafer (5/3), Gaw (5/15), Daly (6/16), Terry (8/16), Jaeger (8/16), Hoffman (9/10), Leathers (9/11), Cheeves (9/30), Clarke (9/30), Brown (9/30), and Jones (10/2). 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: 65 checks. Auction LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $1,000.