For sale is a very early "Players' Contract" for Norman "Kid" Elberfeld for the 1901 season season with the Detroit Tigers (formally named the "Detroit Base Ball and Amusement Company" on the contract!). 1901 was the first season for the American League after it was incorporated on January 28, 1901. In fact, this contract is dated February 18, 1901, so very shortly after the league was created.
Elberfeld had an excellent season, batting .308 with a career high 76 RBI while playing shortstop for the Tigers. In 1903, he became the first player the New York Highlanders / Yankees traded for in their inaugural season.
He went on to a solid 14-year career, with half of those playing for the New York Highlanders / Yankees before finishing his playing career in Washington, as documented on his popular T206 portrait cards. Elberfeld was known as a hard-nosed player and fierce competitor, developing a close friendship with Ty Cobb with their similar personalities.
This is an early piece of American League, Detroit Tigers, and New York Highlanders / Yankees history. The contract is signed by Norman Elberfeld as well as President/Owner James D. Burns and Manager George Stallings, who would later manage the Highlanders and the 1914 Miracle Boston Braves.
The condition is excellent for its age. It has toning from light exposure, but only minor wear. It is folded into four panels as intended. The images shown below are both with an iPad to show the entire document, and a scanner to provide a better resolution (but I could not scan the whole document in one image). This item has been held in a private collection since it was won at auction in 1998.
$SOLD delivered net to me, with payment preferred by PayPal Friend. Please PM or email me at
kris.sweckard@sbcglobal.net