As the 100th anniversary of baseball neared, the National Baseball Hall of Fame was created in Cooperstown, New York to commemorate the very best players of the game. The members of Baseball Writers of America were selected vote on who was worthy of enshrinement and the first round of voting was held in 1936. Of the 47 candidates eligible, five were selected: Ty Cobb was named on 98.2% of the ballots and Babe Ruth and Honus Wagner tied at 95.1%. Christy Mathewson (90.7%) and Walter Johnson (83.6%) completed the inaugural class.

      Leading up to the Hall's opening in 1939, three more elections were held and to this day the annual voting is as much of a part of the baseball season as Opening Day or the World Series. This unique group of signed bank checks brings together those first five inductees to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. All five checks are superior examples, especially chosen their aesthetic attributes as well as for the quality of the signatures. None of the usual bank cancellation holes intrude into the signatures and the condition of each bears just minimal wear from bank processing. Each has been encapsulated and graded by PSA/DNA.

      Babe Ruth - November 19, 1935 dated Chemical Bank and Trust check with "BABE RUTH" printed vertically on the left side and signed in bold black fountain pen "GH Ruth". A very light bank stamp can be faintly seen over the "H" in "GH" but does not distract what so ever from the signature. PSA/DNA Mint 9 (83820497) encapsulated.

      Christy Mathewson - March 26, 1925 dated Adirondack National Bank check with "CHRISTY MATHEWSON" printed vertically on the left side signed "Christy Mathewson" in strong black fountain pen. There is a light stain that runs vertically through the "h" in "Christy" but this does not distract from the boldness of the signature. PSA/DNA Mint 9 (83845583) encapsulated.

      Walter Johnson - November 29, 1941 dated The Germantown Bank check signed in strong black fountain pen "Walter Johnson". PSA/DNA Mint 9 (83479043) encapsulated.

      Ty Cobb - May 10, 1935 dated The Bank of California signed in bold black fountain pen "Tyrus R. Cobb" complete with his famous flourish. PSA/DNA Mint 9 (83117284) encapsulated.

      Honus Wagner - October 12, 1920 dated First National Bank check signed in fountain pen "John H. Wagner". PSA/DNA Mint 9 encapsulated. A complete and very attractive grouping of Cooperstown's first "Class of 1936".

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