Rare 1918 Chicago Cubs (vs. Boston Red Sox) World Series Program

Sold For:

$19,200

Year:

1918

Auction:

2018 Fall

Lot #:

2139

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Exceedingly rare program issued for the 1918 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox at Chicago. This is only the fourth example of this particular Chicago program we have seen, making it one of the most elusive of all World Series programs issued during the decade. It should be noted that this is one of two different programs issued for the Series in Chicago. (The other is equally rare; what is especially interesting is that each of the two different Chicago World Series programs was printed by the same company and are identical with regard to the interior pages; only the covers are different.) The offered program, which is a regular-season Cubs program featuring a World Series score sheet, displays a portrait of Cubs manager Fred Mitchell on the front cover. The forty-two page program, printed by the F. J. Riley Printing Company of Chicago, features score sheets for both the Cubs and Red Sox and is otherwise composed almost exclusively of advertisements (both National companies and local Chicago businesses are represented, including A. G. Spalding & Bros., Edelweiss Beer, and Helmar Turkish Cigarettes). The preprinted lineup sheets include Ruth, Hooper, Strunk, and McInnis for Boston, and Merkle, Flack, Hollocher, Mann, and Paskert for Chicago. (Ruth's name is in the printed lineup as batting fourth and playing left field.) The program (6 x 9 inches), which is not scored, displays a light vertical fold and a small edge tear on the back cover; otherwise it is in Excellent condition. This is an exceptional high-grade example of this great World Series rarity. As a point of reference, the only other example of this particular 1918 World Series program we have ever offered, which was in lesser condition, appeared as Lot 1835 in our Fall 2017 auction, where it realized $24,000. Reserve $1,000. Estimate (open).