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John I. Taylor Issued Stock to Joseph Lannin 1913 [176376]

Currency:USD Category:Memorabilia / Sports - Baseball Start Price:700.00 USD Estimated At:1,400.00 - 5,000.00 USD
John I. Taylor Issued Stock to Joseph Lannin 1913  [176376]
UNCLAIMED MERCHANDISE: In the event that a successful bidder has paid in full for their merchandise but fails to settle outstanding shipping invoices or make arrangements for merchandise pickup within 60 days, HWAC reserves the right to declare the merchandise forfeited. This forfeiture will result in the merchandise becoming the property of HWAC and the successful bidder shall have no claim to or rights over the forfeited merchandise.
Boston Red Sox stock certificate #24 for 100 shares at $100 per share. What is unique about this piece is that it is signed by club president and majority owner John I. Taylor and issued to the future owner of the club, Joseph Lannin, who would buy controlling interest in the club from James R. MacAleer in 1913.
John I. Taylor is one of the most controversial figures in Boston Red Sox history. After Boston won the first 20th-century World Series in 1903, American League president Ban Johnson faced a dilemma. The Boston championship team was owned and operated by Midwestern interests. Johnson wisely decided that the team should be sold to a local group. Gen. Charles Henry Taylor, publisher of the Boston Globe, bought the team. He immediately made the youngest of his three sons the team president. John I., as he was called, ran the team from 1904 through 1911.
Another fascinating addition to this certificate, is that the reverse of the certificate shows that fifty (50) of the 100 shares were transferred to Harry Frazee and fifty (50) shares to Hugh Joseph Ward and dated November 1, 1916, a day before they took over ownership on November 2, 1916.
This is one of a series of consecutive lots that trace the ownership of the Red Sox from Taylor to Frazee from 1913 to 1917, the period in Sox history that saw the signing of Babe Ruth to his first Major League contract (By Taylor) and the sale of Ruth to the New York Yankees by Frazee in 1919.
A real slice of baseball history, along with the following four (4) lots. Please see photos for more details. Boston Massachusetts Ken Prag Collection