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Lot # 115: 1915 Joseph J. Kelley New York Yankees Signed Contract (PSA)

Starting Bid: $1,000.00

Bids: 23 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Invit17",
which ran from 5/23/2017 10:30 AM to
6/30/2017 9:00 PM



One of the tougher baseball autographs and on many top collector's hit lists, a super rare Hall of Famer autograph of Joseph J. Kelly is included in this 1915 American League Player's contract for William Tamm. The official document is 8.5" wide and 28" long, designed to fold into quarters to fit in a breast pocket, with print on both sides. It is signed by Tamm, Jacob Rupert as President of the American League Base Ball Club of New York B.B.C, and Joseph J. Kelley as a witness, as well as Ban Johnson as President of the American League. Kelley was a speedy outfielder with a .317 average whose career spanned from 1891-1908, and he also served as a player-manager. He passed away in 1943 and was inducted into Cooperstown by the Veterans Committee in 1971. The contract has typical folds and some pencil notes, otherwise EX condition. It comes with a PSA letter, and autographs are graded "7" overall; in our opinion the Kelley signature is an 9, Rupert an 8, Tamm a 9, and Johnson a 9. Of course, Kelley is by far the most significant signature on the piece but having two other Hall of Famers (Jacob Ruppert and Ban Johnson) present adds to the importance of this historic document.

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