Financial ledger recording the business operations of the Detroit Tigers in 1909, including player salaries and World Series revenue. This is one of several early 1900s Detroit Tigers financial ledgers we have seen, all of which originate from the Tigers team archives. All the entries are recorded in the hand of co-owner Frank Navin, including two full-name signatures and numerous initials. Prior to gaining ownership of the club in 1908, Navin was the club's longtime business manager and, as we see here, he continued his bookkeeping duties throughout the 1909 season. Because Navin received a salary, his name is listed in the entry book, and also in the front index, therefore the ledger features two full Frank Navin signatures.  All the entries are boldly scripted in either black or red fountain pen and the signatures average 9/10 overall. 

 The 136-page hardbound ledger (10.5x16") records the Tigers' financial transactions from January 2, 1909, to December 30, 1909, with the first seventy-six pages displaying entries. In addition to salary payments to players and other employees, the ledger records expenses/profits relating to spring training, the front office, the grounds, general improvements, and the 1909 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Among the many prominent names recorded in the ledger as having received payment from the club are Ty Cobb, Sam Crawford, Hughie Jennings, George Mullin, Germany Schaefer, George Moriarty, Matty McIntyre, and Boss Schmidt. One of the most interesting pieces of information found in the ledger is that Cobb, with a salary of $4,500, was not the highest paid player on the team. That honor belonged to Sam Crawford, who was paid $5,575. Even more interesting is that the salaries of Cobb and Crawford combined did not add up to the $12,000 earned by manager Hughie Jennings. The final entry for Jennings is $5,000 on October 20th, which probably indicates a bonus for winning the pennant for the third consecutive year (the World Series ended on October 16th). 

The ledger displays heavy wear to the covers and spine, but the pages remain clean and are in Excellent to Mint condition overall. Major League financial ledgers from this era are exceedingly rare. This is one of fewer than six such examples we have seen and the fact that it records Ty Cobb's salary during his Triple Crown season, not to mention World Series financials, makes it especially significant.