Incredibly Rare 1910 Philadelphia Athletics (vs. Chicago Cubs) World Series Program

Sold For:

$36,000

Year:

1910

Auction:

2018 Fall

Lot #:

2105

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Exceedingly rare 1910 Philadelphia Athletics World Series program issued for Game 1. The 1910 Philadelphia A's World Series program may be the most elusive of all World Series programs. This is the first example we have ever offered and we are aware of only two others (one of which resides in the permanent collection of the Baseball Hall of Fame). The reason for its rarity is almost certainly due to the fact that its design is simply that of a regular-season fold-over scorecard. The interior preprinted lineups, however, are those of the A's and their 1910 World Series rivals, the Chicago Cubs. Because there is nothing identifying it as a special World Series program on the front cover, few collectors over the years would have recognized it as such (the only outward hint of its World Series pedigree is a small box on the back cover that displays the results of the six preceding World Series beginning in 1903). It should be noted that there was a 52-page booklet titled "Athletics Champions 1910" sold at Shibe Park during the 1910 World Series that is sometimes mistakenly identified as a 1910 A's World Series program, but that booklet was not an official program and was basically a souvenir yearbook. The offered program has been neatly scored in pencil to record Philadelphia's 4-1 victory in Game 1. The preprinted lineups include Baker, Collins, Bender, Barry, Davis, and Strunk for Philadelphia, and Chance, Tinker, Schulte, Kling, Steinfeld, and Hoffman for Chicago. Frank Baker led the offensive attack for the A's with three hits and two RBI, while Chief Bender held Chicago to one run and just three hits. The program (7.25 x 11.25 inches) displays two horizontal folds, along the ends of one of which is a small tear. A few light creases and minor edge wear are also evident. In Very Good condition overall. This is a superb example of one of the rarest of all World Series programs.



Reserve $5,000. Estimate (open).