1890 Tim Keefe Signed Document Related to the Construction of Brotherhood Park - Inaugural Season of the Players' League - PSA/DNA

Sold For:

$27,600

Year:

1890

Auction:

2025 Spring

Lot #:

2384

Category:

Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

This historically significant signed invoice related to the construction of Brotherhood Park (later Polo Grounds III) of the short-lived Players League features the extremely rare signature of legendary New York Giants Hall of Fame pitcher Tim Keefe. The Players' League was formed in 1890 by Major League players who had become dissatisfied with their treatment by the team owners. Alongside Giants' teammate John Montgomery Ward, Keefe was one of the leaders of The Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players, the first player's union in professional baseball. The preceding year The Brotherhood led an open revolt against management that resulted in the formation of the renegade league. Unfortunately, financial miscalculations caused the Players' League to fold after just one season and most of the players simply returned to their old clubs. The construction of Brotherhood Park was not for naught, however, as after the 1890 season the New York Giants franchise of the National League moved into the park, taking their Polo Grounds stadium name with them. The invoice, typed on Patterson, Jordan & Gottfried Company letterhead and addressed to Edward B. Talcott, the lead financer of the New York Giants franchise of the Players League, is boldly signed "T. J. Keefe" in black fountain pen, just below Talcott's signature. This is the first Keefe-signed item REA has ever had the privilege of offering! This piece initially sold at a public auction in 2018 as a part of a grouping that consisted of several other extremely rare Hall of Fame autographs. The scarcity of Keefe's signature cannot be overstated. He is one of the key rarities in all of Hall of Fame autograph collecting and his signature is missing from nearly all of the most advanced baseball-autograph collections.

The invoice, dated April 3rd, 1890, details the ironwork Patterson, Jordan & Gottfried Company handled regarding the construction of Brotherly Park's grandstands and the corresponding costs. In full: E. B. Talcott, Esq, Pay to the order of Patterson Gottfried & Hunter, Limited, Eighteen Hundred, Ninety Three & 43/100 Dollars, ($1893 43/100) for Iron Work, etc, in original contract for Grand Stand; and Seven Hundred Dollars ($700) additional for work as per quotations to D.H. King. Keefe and Talcott's signatures appear on the document as a means of payment approval. The date on which the invoice was paid (April 8, 1890) and the signatures of three other employees are also visible.

The document (7-7/8 x 10-3/8 inches) displays several fold lines, a small hole in the top left, and several other tiny holes just below. Keefe's signature however is unaffected by these minor flaws and the piece remains in Excellent condition overall. Full LOA from PSA/DNA.