This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/4/2021
In the spring of 1960 Ted Williams was a long way from the days when he was known as “The Kid.” But despite his 41 years and a career twice broken apart by stints in the Marine Corps, Ted Williams remained a formidable presence with a bat in his hand. In 1957 and 1958 Williams led the American League in hitting, the third time in his career he would win the title in back-to-back seasons. Now past forty and his legacy secure, Ted Williams decided 1960 would be his last season in uniform. Before he showed up at spring training to gear up for his final campaign, Ted Williams signed this, his annual contract with the Red Sox. The official 4-page Uniform Player’s Contract is made out to “Theodore Samuel Williams” and promises the salary of “$60,000.00 (Sixty Thousand Dollars)" for the year 1960. While $60,000 does not seem like much for the services of the greatest hitter in the game’s history, in a 1960 perspective it was a hefty sum, and the same amount he received in both 1958 and 1959. The 1960 season was the 41 year-old Splendid Splinter’s swansong, batting .316 with 29 home runs for the 7th place Red Sox. Six years later he would be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, his immortality secure as the greatest hitter of all-time. Ted’s 1960 contract has been signed by him in blue pen on the interior 3rd page along with American League president (and Williams’ old teammate) Joe Cronin and Red Sox General Manager S.R. “Bucky” Harris. As a working document the contract shows toning and edge wear from age along with horizontal folds from mailing and a small fold is present along the bottom edge. The signatures have been wonderfully preserved on the interior pages providing a perfect example of Ted’s “Theodore Williams” signature. A museum-quality piece from Ted Williams’ final season as a ballplayer. Accompanied by a full LOA from PSA/DNA
Estimate: $35,000+