January 2020 Auction Ends Thursday, January 30th, 5pm Pacific
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 1/30/2020
Incredible lot of 55 financial ledgers for the Dodgers, starting in 1924 during their time in Brooklyn until 1965 after the team moved to Los Angeles and settled in at Dodgers Stadium. This never before seen treasure trove of data includes reports prepared by the Dodgers' accounting firm, with detailed income statements and balance sheets, usually on a quarterly or annual basis, as well as other interesting information such as a 1932 report outlining the ''depreciation'' of each baseball player, including Lefty O'Doul and Hack Wilson. The early reports cover two corporations: the Brooklyn National League Baseball Club Inc., which owned the Dodgers, and the Ebbets McKeever Exhibition Company Inc., which owned Ebbets Field; beginning in 1960, reports are for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Inc.
Not only do the documents provide information as to the financial health of the ball club over these forty years, but also document the sources of revenue, such as ticket sales against each team they played (including playoff and Wold Series games), stadium rental fees, television revenue beginning in 1947, and merchandise sales over the years - an income stream which would grow in sophistication as the decades progressed. Detailed data on expenses include manager salaries, scout and coach salaries, player salaries, cost of uniforms, baseballs and bats, etc., scouting trips, and everything else associated with running a major league ball club. Many reports include revenue associated with selling player contracts, as well as the cost of acquiring player contracts, with players sometimes noted.
Reports are more or less consistent from 1924 until 1949 after which there's a gap until 1958 when a special report entitled ''Los Angeles Dodgers, Inc. Selected Data on Operations January-June 1958'' was prepared, which contains a host of information regarding the Dodgers move to Los Angeles. Most of it is comparison data between Brooklyn and Los Angeles, such as a ''Comparison of Attendance and Game Income'', a ''Comparison of Television and Radio Income'', as well as data on advertising income, concessions and novelties sales, an ''Analysis of Ticket Sales and Home Game Income'', and ''Bonus Payments 1958 to 1962, Inclusive'' related to bonus payments for up and coming players such as Frank Howard and Earl Robinson. Subsequent statements from the 1960s provide details on the construction of Dodgers Stadium, where the Dodgers would begin playing in 1962.
In addition to the 55 reports, lot also includes 3 extra reports: one for the Jersey City Baseball Club Inc., and one entitled ''Minor League Clubs'' from 1939, both of which were invested in by the Dodgers. At least one of the Dodgers reports also has significant information on the Dodgers affiliated minor league clubs. Sizes of the reports vary slightly, but measure approximately 9.5'' x 11.25'' and run about 10-15pp. on average, with the shortest report running 4pp. and the longest 38pp. A few of the reports may be duplicates. Some minor soiling and wear, overall in very good or better condition. Consigned directly from the Mulvey family, who co-owned the Dodgers from 1912-1975.
Lot of 55 Official Financial Ledgers for the Dodgers From 1924-1965 -- Covering Their Move to LA From Brooklyn, Player Salaries, Ticket Sales, Manager & Scout Salaries, Player ''Depreciation'' & More
Click above for larger image.