The American League Base Ball Club of New York check, 9 x 3.25, filled out in type and and signed by Ruppert, "Jacob Ruppert," and vertically countersigned by Barrow, "E. G. Barrow," payable to George H. Ruth for $7,234.09, June 16, 1930. Endorsed on the reverse in fountain pen by Babe Ruth using his given name, "George H. Ruth." The check covers Ruth's salary for June 1st to 15th, minus expenses for transportation and lodging during the Yankees' road trip to Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis. In fine condition, with cancellation holes affecting parts of Ruth's first name and middle initial. Accompanied by the December 21, 1959 issue of Sports Illustrated, which depicts this very check on the front cover and has an article discussing 'The Babe Ruth Papers,' a cache of historic baseball documents which the magazine had acquired from Nathaniel E. Stein and Nelson Frank.
Babe Ruth made the highest salary of his career in 1930, a whopping $80,000 per year—more than double the amount earned by any other player in baseball. He lived up to the hype, leading the American League in home runs (49) for the fifth year in a row. During this two-week pay period from June 1st to 15th, he hit for a .410 average, crushed six home runs, and collected 16 RBI as New York finished up a home stand against Boston and took to the road for series in Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, and Cleveland. A rare and remarkable Yankees payroll check issued to baseball's most legendary figure. Encapsulated by PSA/DNA, with the signature graded "NM-MT 8."
