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Four-page fold-over contract, dated January 5, 1931, between Jimmie Foxx and the American Base Ball Club of Philadelphia, signed in black fountain pen by "James Foxx" (grading "10"), "John D. Shibe" ("7") as vice president, and a witness. Also signed on the front in black fountain pen by "E. S. Barnard" ("9/10") as American League President. This three-year agreement, for the 1931, 1932, and 1933 seasons, calls for Foxx to receive a salary of $16,666.66 per year. This is one of the most historically significant Hall of Fame baseball contracts in existence, notable both for its rarity (we are aware of the existence of only one other Jimmie Foxx contract), Jimmy Foxx's great prominence as one of the premier sluggers in baseball history (including one of the earliest members of the "500 Home Run Club"), and for the fact that it was under the terms of this agreement that Foxx enjoyed the two greatest seasons of his legendary career. In short, Jimmy Foxx is baseball royalty, and this is without question the most important Foxx contact that could possibly exist!

Foxx was the sports world's original "Beast" and his numbers during the three-year span 1931 to 1933 reflect that moniker. By any measure, the Athletics certainly got their money's worth by signing Foxx to the offered three-year contract. Foxx batted .291 with 30 home runs and 120 RBI in 1931, which was just a small prelude of things to come. The following year he made the first serious run at Babe Ruth's single-season home-run record of 60, falling just short at 58. He combined that league-leading home run total with league-high marks in both RBI (169) and slugging percentage (.749) to go along with his .364 batting average. Those numbers earned him the MVP Award at season's end. For an encore, he not only earned his second consecutive MVP Award in 1933, but he did it in grand style, capturing baseball's coveted Triple Crown by virtue of his league-leading totals in batting average (.356), home runs (48), and RBI (163). Foxx finished his career with 534 home runs, 1,922 RBI, and .325 average. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1951.

Contracts of Hall of Fame players, especially from this era, are extremely rare and the offered example is no exception. As we stated earlier, this is the first and only Jimmy Foxx player contract we have ever had the privilege of offering, and only the second Jimmie Foxx contract we even know to exist. We have known of this three-year Foxx contact for decades and have long hoped we would eventually be able to present this historic gem at auction. Interestingly, there are considerably more player contracts in existence for other magic names of Foxx's era, most notably Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig (for which numerous contracts exist for each). In almost all cases, the memorabilia market values Ruth and Gehrig more than Foxx, but the rarity of Foxx contracts and the fact that this is his most desirable player contract are certainly pluses worth noting. (What would Ruth or Gehrig's 1927 Yankees player contract sell for?)

Foxx played for twenty seasons, but this is the only contract that covers both his two MVP seasons and Triple Crown season, making it the finest Foxx contract in the hobby and one of the most important Hall of Fame contracts to ever surface. The contract (8.5 x 11 inches) displays two horizontal folds, light discoloration along the right border, and a light diagonal crease in the upper right corner. In Excellent condition overall. LOA from James Spence/JSA.  Reserve $5,000. Estimate (open).