This rare set of documents is an original financial ledger from September 1919 for the Chicago National League Baseball Club — better known today as the Chicago Cubs. It includes handwritten notes and official bank statements detailing checks, deposits, and balances for the organization. Items like this offer a unique glimpse into the behind-the-scenes operations of a Major League Baseball team over 100 years ago, at a time when baseball was cementing its place as America's pastime. What's particularly fascinating is that this ledger comes from the same era as the infamous 1919 Black Sox Scandal, a major event in baseball history. While the Cubs weren't directly involved in that scandal, they were one of baseball’s cornerstone franchises, playing at the newly renamed Cubs Park (today's iconic Wrigley Field). Cool fact: in 1919, the Cubs were owned by William Wrigley Jr., the chewing gum magnate, who had just taken a controlling interest in the team. This ledger isn't just paperwork — it’s a time capsule from the dawn of modern professional baseball.

These original 1919 Chicago Cubs payroll checks are a remarkable window into the early days of professional baseball. Each check was issued by the "Chicago National League Ball Club" and signed by then-team treasurer and part-owner, William Veeck Sr. (father of legendary baseball promoter Bill Veeck Jr.). These documents are not just financial records — they are pieces of baseball history, showing the operations of one of MLB’s oldest and most storied franchises during a pivotal era. The year 1919 is especially notable in baseball lore, remembered most for the infamous Black Sox Scandal — though the Cubs were not directly involved, it reflects how much the game was evolving both on and off the field. A cool fact: William Veeck Sr. would later become the president of the Cubs and was instrumental in building the team's first Wrigley Field traditions, including the famed ivy on the outfield walls. Holding a check like this is like holding a day in the life of early big-league baseball.

This fascinating piece is an original bank statement from April 1919 for the Chicago Cubs, issued by Lake View State Bank in Chicago. It’s an incredible glimpse into the financial operations of one of baseball’s most historic franchises just after World War I and right before the roaring 1920s changed the face of America. At the time, the Cubs were playing at what was then known as Weeghman Park—later renamed Wrigley Field—just five years after it opened. The ledger lists canceled checks, deposits, and outstanding balances, offering a rare look at how a professional ballclub managed its finances a century ago. A cool fact: In 1919, the Cubs were managed by Fred Mitchell, and even though the infamous Black Sox scandal rocked baseball that fall, the Cubs themselves were fighting hard to stay competitive in the National League. Artifacts like this not only connect us to the game’s early business side but also remind us that behind the players on the field, the team’s survival depended on careful financial management—even back then!

This original bank ledger statement from December 31, 1917, is an extraordinary relic from the early days of Major League Baseball, specifically tied to the Chicago National League Ball Club, now known as the Chicago Cubs. Issued by The First National Bank of Chicago, the document details the team's financial transactions, checks issued, deposits made, and an ending balance of $10,646.98—a significant sum in its day. This kind of ledger would have been used to manage team operations, including payroll, travel, and stadium expenses. What makes this piece especially remarkable is how it offers a tangible link to baseball operations during World War I, a time when America—and its pastime—was undergoing great change. In 1917, the Cubs were managed by Fred Mitchell and finished 5th in the National League. A cool fact: less than a year later, the team would move into what is now Wrigley Field—a stadium still beloved by fans over a century later. This document isn't just a financial record—it's a window into the business of baseball during one of its most formative eras.

These original bank checks, dated November 23, 1916, were issued by the Chicago National League Ball Club—better known today as the Chicago Cubs. One was made out to the Ansell Ticket Co. for $207.00, and the other to Hinckley & Schmitt for $7.50, most likely for tickets and refreshments, respectively. Both checks are drawn from the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank and are marked “PAID,” featuring beautiful period typography and punch cancellations. What makes these checks especially remarkable is the signature of Charles H. Weeghman, then president of the Cubs. Weeghman was a pivotal figure in Cubs history, as he moved the team into what would later become Wrigley Field in 1916—the very same year these checks were written. This was also the Cubs' first season playing in the now-iconic ballpark. Holding one of these checks is like holding a piece of the Cubs’ transformation into the beloved franchise we know today.