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1924 Rogers Hornsby Player Contract
In 1922, Rogers Hornsby sought a three-year contract for $25,000 from the St. Louis Cardinals National Baseball Club. He was denied, but granted a three-year, $18,500 contract. Interesting about this contract, signed in 1922, is that it is for $17,500 for the 1924 season. 1924 was a significant year for Hornsby. In that year, he had a batting average of .424, which is the sixth highest batting average in a single season in MLB history (and the 20th century NL record). He also led the league with 89 walks, producing a .507 on-base percentage. His slugging percentage of .696 again led the league, as did his 121 runs scored, 227 hits, and 43 doubles. He also managed to hit 25 home runs that season. This contract is original and printed, with the pertinent information typed in. It is between "The St. Louis National Baseball Club, herein called the Club, and Rogers Hornsby of St. Louis, Mo., herein called the Player." The employment terms: "The Club will pay the Player a salary for his skilled services during the playing season of 1924 at the rate of... $17,500 for the season." The back page of the contract is signed and dated: "Signed this 9th day of March, A.D. 1922 St. Louis National Baseball Club by Branch Rickey, President, Rogers Hornsby, Player. A typed clause at the end of the contract gave Hornsby permission to "engage in exhibition games of baseball after all games of the regular schedule, or post season games arranged by the club, shall have been played." Under this typewritten clause, in red ink, is a handwritten note in cursive. Somewhat faded, it reads, "New York, April 25, 1924. *The pregoing side agreement of this contract is not approved." It is signed John A. Heydler, who was then president of the National LEague of Professional Baseball Clubs. What would be the front of the contract when folded reads "National League Player's Contract; The St. Louis National Baseball Club with Rogers Hornsby or St. Louis, MO. Approved as to form with exception of added paragraph 9, John A. Heydler, President, National League of Prof B.B. Clubs." Also interesting to note is that the date of April 25, 1924 is typed in on the contract front, perhaps indicating the effective date of this contract, even though it was signed in March of 1922. The two-sided, 11x17" contract, which was originally folded into sixths, comes with a photocopy of the contract front, from the era. The contract is in excellent condition with very little paper loss at the edges, minor creasing on the folds and very little fading. There is some red ink bleed from the inside note to the outside front page, and some figures penciled in to the top margin of the front page.
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