Lot # 2301: 1928 Arnold Rothstein (1919 Black Sox "Fixer") Endorsed Check - PSA/DNA

Extremely rare signature example of Arnold Rothstein, the man who "fixed" the 1919 World Series, dated just three months before he was gunned down in a New York City hotel on November 3, 1928. The check, dated July 20, 1928, and issued by Adolph Klar, Inc., is made out to "Arnold Rothstein" for $300 and has been endorsed by Rothstein on the reverse. Rothstein's signature has been scripted in black fountain pen. Arnold Rothstein's signature, in any form, is almost unheard of, let alone on an ideal item such as a check. While Rothstein's notoriety today is largely based upon his involvement in the 1919 World Series scandal, he was one of the top underworld figures in history and a leader of New York organized crime during the "Roaring Twenties." Known by several nicknames, including "The Brain," "The Big Bank Roll," "The Fixer," and "Mr. Big," Rothstein was a larger-than-life character in an era of excess and one of the most famous gamblers in history. Rothstein had a knack for betting on "sure things," specifically those events in which the outcome had been prearranged. The 1919 World Series, because of its national scope, was his most famous "fix," although he always denied any involvement in the scandal. On November 3, 1928, he was shot at the Park Central Hotel in New York City, and he died the following day as a result of his wounds. The reason for his murder has been attributed to the large loss of $320,000 the previous month at a high-stakes poker game, a debt which Rothstein refused to pay, because he said the game was fixed. The check (8 x 3 inches) shows light creasing and staple holes, along with normal bank cancellation stamps and perforations. There are two patches of tape residue on the reverse. In Good condition overall.