Auction Item Details
Lot 557
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Lot Number: 557
Description: Rare 1914 New York Giants partial team signed baseball with Mathewson and Thorpe. John McGraw assumed control of the New York Giants in 1902 and in one of the longest tenures in the history of sports, would herald the team through three decades. In an unforgiving era some of the greatest names in the history of baseball forged their careers under his guidance and perhaps none came away so storied, accomplished, and revered as Christy Mathewson. With McGraw at the helm and Matty on the hill the Giants won (4) League titles and a World Series. On the heels of two consecutive years at the top of the NL and a World Tour in the off-season, the 1914 Gants would end that season with a second place standing. Jim Thorpe had joined the team two years earlier and played sporadically, worthy of note in that he was, and remains to this day, one of the most noted sporting figures on a world wide basis. Pre-1920 team signed baseballs are virtually non-existent with few examples coming to market. Seldom offered opportunity to acquire a fresh to market team ball with note to a prominent and rare signature as Christy Mathewson. Spalding John Tenner Official National League baseball has been signed by (15) including Christy Mathewson, John J. McGraw, Mike Donlin, C.M. (Jeff) Tesreau, A.J. (Rube) Schauer, Fred Snodgrass, Ferd Schupp (block printed), George Burns, Fred Merkle, Milt Stock, Hooks Wiltse, Larry Doyle, Elmer Johnson, Arthur Fromme, and Jim Thorpe (printed). Period fountain pen signatures rate 5 to 8 out of 10 with McGraw slightly lesser at 3/4. Mathewson remains among the strongest (7 to 7/8 out of 10). Ball displays toning with discoloration to period coat of shellac. Light scattered wear in the form of several scrapes to surface. Previously mounted with small hole (roughly the diameter of a pencil) at League stampings which remain well defined. Includes auction LOA from JSA: Ball VG, Sigs. VG-EX/MTEstimated Price Range: ($7,500-$10,000)
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