Lajoie signed checks ... any in the hobby?

[BRoberts]

Just because I was curious, I recently researched auction archives online and old auction catalogs to see how many different prewar Hall of Famers were represented among signed checks that came to auction. I began the project knowing/expecting that I wouldn't find an example of a number of HOFers (Addie Joss comes to mind), but one that I didn't find that surprised me was Nap Lajoie. His career spanned a time when many of his contemporaries have had examples of their checks come to market, and he lived until 1959. Yet I can't find one example of a sale of a signed check. Any thoughts as to why, and better yet, does anyone have an example of a sale or a check?

[JimStinson]

I have never heard of or ever seen a Napoleon Lajoie check and have never spoke to anyone that has. In the 1980's I visited the house in Holly Hill Florida where he used to live.
It was then occupied by his nephew and niece. They told me that several years before he died, he was "cleaning house" and piled all of his baseball memorabilia and many personal effects that still remained on the bed and told those in attendance to take what they wanted because he was taking the rest to the dump.
_____________________
Always BUYING Vintage Autographs e-mail direct
jim@stinsonsports.com

[BRoberts]

Thanks for your insight, Jim.