1917 New York Giants (vs. White Sox) World Series Program

Sold For:

$1,320

Year:

1917

Auction:

2017 Fall

Lot #:

1831

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

The 1917 World Series program at New York features one of the all-time classic World Series cover designs: an image of President Wilson throwing out the first ball at the opening of the 1917 American League season at Washington. The patriotic cover is especially fitting as America was in the throes of World War I at the time of the Series. The 28-page program features portrait photos of 14 members of the Giants, as well as a full-page photo of manager John McGraw. Ideally, the preprinted lineup for Chicago, in addition to listing future Hall of Famers Eddie Collins, Ray Schalk, and Red Faber, also features all eight players who would later be banned from baseball for conspiring to "fix" the 1919 World Series: Joe Jackson, Chick Gandil, Hap Felsch, Eddie Cicotte, Lefty Williams, Swede Risberg, Buck Weaver, and Fred McMullen. Among the players listed for New York are Jim Thorpe, Benny Kauff, Buck Herzog, Heinie Zimmerman, and George Burns. The program (9.25 x 11 inches) is not scored, but it could only have been issued for Games 3, 4, or 6, as those were the only 3 games played in New York during the 1917 Series, which was won by Chicago in 6 games. The program (9.25 x 11 inches) displays light foxing to a few interior pages and the four center-most pages have detached from the binding staples (one of those four pages has a small tear along the right border); otherwise, the program is in Excellent condition overall. All pre-1920 World Series programs are rare. This is a highly prized early World Series program and one that is especially noted for its tremendous display value. Reserve $300. Estimate $1,000+.