1915 Boston Red Sox (vs. Phillies) World Series Program (Babe Ruth's First World Series!)

Sold For:

$2,963

Year:

1915

Auction:

2012 Spring

Lot #:

998

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Boston Red Sox program issued for the 1915 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. The attractive cover design features individual portrait photos of the respective owners and managers for Boston and Philadelphia (Joseph Lanin and William Carrigan for Boston and W. F. Baker and Pat Moran for Philadelphia). The interior pages include separate team photographs of Boston and Philadelphia, while a second Red Sox team photo appears on the back cover as part of an advertisement for Stag Brand Sweaters (Babe Ruth is included in each team photo). This classic early World Series program is especially significant as 1915 marked the first World Series appearance by Babe Ruth. (Ruth's only appearance in the Series was as a pinch hitter in Game 1.) The preprinted lineups include Hooper, Speaker, Hoblitzell, Lewis, and Carrigan for Boston, and Bancroft, Luderus, and Cravath for Philadelphia. The program has been neatly scored in pencil for Game 5 of the Series and records a 2-1 Boston victory. The names of the respective pitchers for each club, Alexander for Philadelphia, and Leonard for Boston, have been filled in by hand. Boston defeated the Phillies in five games to capture their second of four World Championships during the decade. The program (7 x 10.375 inches) displays a light vertical fold, a few small, light stains on the front cover, a number of minor edge tears, and a slight amount of oxidation to the staples. The pages remain clean and bright. In Very Good condition overall. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$1,500. SOLD FOR $2,963