Auction Item Details
Lot 177
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Lot Number: 177
Description: Significant April 20, 1912 Fenway Park Opening Day panoramic photograph. Author John Updike once noted, "Fenway Park is a lyric little bandbox of a ballpark. Everything is painted green and seems in curiously sharp focus, like the inside of an old-fashioned peeping-type Easter egg." On April 20, 1912, the new Fenway Park opened its gates to the public and assumed its place in history. Seated between the Muddy River and Stony Brook, the stadium was constructed by railroad owner John Taylor, who built the park as a real estate venture on an area known as the "Fens". Ground was broken in September 1911, and although not yet complete, the first game was played on April 20, 1912 before a crowd of 27,000 fans. Appropriately, the inaugural opponent was the New York Highlanders (who later became the Yankees). The game was decided a Red Sox victory in the 10th inning on a Tris Speaker hit. The offered panoramic image of that inaugural game at Fenway measures an impressive 7"x45" framed with both teams lined up in front of the grandstand. Pictured players include Speaker, Wood, Hooper, Cicotte, Chase, Ford, and Warhop. Speaker and Wood appear twice as they ran around to the Highlanders side after the first exposure was taken. Marked "Glines photo, Washington" at top right corner. Image has two minute ink marks at the bottom edge mentioned for accuracy only and some very minimal age cracking at the top left corner area. Photo retains excellent clarity and contrast with the (presumably) red, white, and blue bunting visible behind the players. The offered example is one of only a scant few known exemplars and represents both the beginning of the legendary stadium and the storied rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox: EX-MTEstimated Price Range: ($5,000-$7,500)
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