The Glory of Their Times Royalty Checks

[aelefson]

Hi-
I recently acquired the check scanned below. It is a royalty check for the book The Glory of Their Times and it is made out and signed by the author. The payee is Al Bridwell who signed it on the back.
Did all of these checks come out at a single auction? Or, were some sold at shows? Were these checks issued monthly? More or less frequently? Any other information regarding these would be great to read.
Please post them if you have them. I would enjoy seeing more of them.
Thanks,
Alan Elefson
aelefson@hotmail.com

[RichardSimon]

Alan - I had a few of these many years ago. I really don't recall how I got them.
There are also full page documents, which were signed by the players, which assign their royalties to a beneficiary in the event of their death.

[Jay Wolt]

Alan, great looking Bridwell royalty check.
I've gotten a bunch of the Ritter checks over the last dozen years or so, all from eBay.
Not sure how they initially originated.

Here's a trio that I've shown a few time on related "Glory" threads

[aelefson]

Thanks Jay and Richard. I got mine from a local longtime dealer but he could not remember where he got it. Jay, those checks are incredible!
Alan

[mighty bombjack]

Wow, these are great! Thanks for showing them, both of you.

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by aelefson

Thanks Jay and Richard. I got mine from a local longtime dealer but he could not remember where he got it. Jay, those checks are incredible!
Alan

I just wish mine scan as nice as your Bridwell, its like night & day

[CardsFan999]

Great items -- I am enjoying looking at them.

"Glory" is by far my favorite baseball book. I have read hundreds
and also collect them, especially copies signed by former players.

"The Glory of Their Times" is my desert-island baseball book with none a close
second.

[byrone]

Those royalties must have came in very handy for the old ballplayers. Seems like they received some pretty decent coin for their interviews. The book, which is a great read, must have sold well have paid such royalties.

[jdmeltz]

I remember Lawrence Ritter himself selling the checks and I think other assorted signed items. I'm pretty sure he had a small ad at some point in one of the hobby magazines (SCD perhaps?)

If I remember correctly, he would sell you a small selection of items, say 5 at a time, for a certain price.

[Jay Wolt]

Originally Posted by byrone

Those royalties must have came in very handy for the old ballplayers. Seems like they received some pretty decent coin for their interviews. The book, which is a great read, must have sold well have paid such royalties.

Yes indeed! There were no card shows and such for the old timers to cash in on like today. And many aging players were struggling financially.
Ritter was very generous to the players, he even bought Hans Lobert a color TV so Hans could watch the games in style.

[pclpads]

I'm assuming these were payback proceeds from the book's sales. So this may be a dumb a** question, but why was Roush paid $935 and Coveleski only $67?

[CardsFan999]

Originally Posted by pclpads

I'm assuming these were payback proceeds from the book's sales. So this may be a dumb a** question, but why was Roush paid $935 and Coveleski only $67?

Roush had a better agent.

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by pclpads

I'm assuming these were payback proceeds from the book's sales. So this may be a dumb a** question, but why was Roush paid $935 and Coveleski only $67?

If you notice the dates, the Coveleski check was written four years after the Roush. I'm guessing that each player received multiple rounds of checks as the royalties kept flowing to Ritter, and it would make sense that each round would be less money than the previous.

[baseballart]

Oh Glory

[gnaz01]

Max, that is some GORGEOUS stuff there!!!

[mighty bombjack]

Damn, Max, you always make me envious when you show these things from your collection. The autos on the cover of that book are incredible.

[baseballart]

Sadly Wayne the book is not in my collection but in close enough proximity so that I see it often enough to be envious

[JimStinson]

I was lucky enough to have known Larry Ritter , "Glory of Their Times" is my favorite baseball book too , He had called in response to one of my ads but can't remember if he was buying something or selling something , When he told me his name I almost fell out of my chair. He was very modest and a wonderful guy that seemed truly surprised that so many people loved his book.

We would speak a few times a year after that and when collectors found out I knew him they asked me if it would be OK to contact him and he was such a great guy he said "Give them my home phone number"

Those royalty checks are the result of the original promise he made to the former players that he would divide all royaties from the sale of the book equally among them and him with each including the author recieving an equal share. In many cases after the player died he continued to pay their estate. Quite a guy.
_________________________
jim@stinsonsports.com

[jimjim]

Just bought the book. Can't wait for it to arrive!

[Hankphenom]

Be sure to pick up the audio set, too.

[almostdone]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Be sure to pick up the audio set, too.

+1

I just finished the audio of this book two days ago for the first time. To hear the stories from the voices of the men themselves is quite a treat. Simply amazing.
Drew