This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/4/2020
There are presently 74 pitchers in the Baseball Hall of Fame, but you can count on one hand how many of them dominated the sport as thoroughly as Christy Mathewson. His pinpoint accuracy and "fadeaway" pitch (later known as the screwball) propelled him to 373 lifetime victories and four World Series appearances with the New York Giants. A five-time ERA leader, his 2.13 lifetime mark ranks #9 all-time, and in the eight seasons from 1903-10, he posted a gaudy 229-84 record. The presented piece is one of the finest and most famous photos ever of Mathewson, attributed to renowned photographer Charles Conlon and originating from the Jame Mathewson estate. This spectacular 6 1/2" x 8 1/2" photo fully captures the image of Christy in stunning clarity. Unlike high-profile players like Cobb, Wagner, and Walter Johnson, Mathewson lived a more private life. He had nicknames like "The Christian Gentleman" and "The Gentleman's hurler" due to his clean-cut demeanor and devout beliefs (he never pitched on Sunday). While the sport was known to be littered with sophomoric hooligans who spent their free time gambling, boozing, or womanizing, Mathewson was much more subdued, having been educated at the exclusive Keystone Academy before honing his craft at Bucknell University. For a delicate snapshot taken well over a century ago, there's little to no sign of wear on the surface, presenting at an EX/MT to NM level, and the snapshot is mounted and framed to a size of approximately 13 1/4" x 16 1/4." The defining image of a baseball legend! LOA from PSA/DNA.