FS: Super Rare Harry Pulliam Signed 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates Contract (died 1909)

[btcarfagno]

This item sold through Robert Edward Auctions (REA) in the Spring of 2013 for $4,444.

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...harry-pulliam/

One of the earliest major league baseball contracts known to exist. Contains the impossibly scarce signature of one of the most important early baseball executives. Pulliam was the President of the National League from 1903-1909. Before that he was Secretary of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Louisville Colnels from 1896-1902. In this capacity, Pulliam is the man who convinced Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss to sign Honus Wagner. Pulliam also played a key role in unifying the American and National Leagues, as well as a key role in setting up the first ever World Series in 1903. It was Pulliam who had to make a decision on the Merkle game, and it was the stress from this and other job related issues that caused him to take his own life in 1909 at the age of 40.

One of the most scarce baseball executive signatures extant.

Please note that the bottom part of the contract, which would contain the signatures of the player and the team executive, has been neatly removed. This seems to have been done long ago. The Pulliam signature is unaffected and extremely large and bold. The contract overall is in excellent condition.

Not only did Pulliam sign the contract but the rest is in his hand as well.

Asking $SOLD Delivered.