Summer 2020 - Item detail
1903 Boston Red Sox World Championship Watch Fob Presented to Jake Stahl
- Sold For:
- $48,000
- Year:
- 1903
- Auction:
- 2020 Summer
- Lot #:
- 1833
- Category:
- Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia
Exceedingly rare gold-colored pendant presented to Boston Red Sox catcher Jake Stahl in commemoration of the club's victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first modern-day World Series in 1903. This is the first example of this historically significant World Series presentation piece we have ever offered and we can recall having seen only two others. The elegant memento consists of a small globe attached to a shield-shaped pendant that displays raised-relief designs on the front and the reverse. The front design features a crossed-bats-and-ball motif in the center, flanked by an Old English "B" on the left, and an "A" on the right (for Boston Americans). The lettering reads "Boston American League Team" at the top, and "Worlds Champions 1903" at the bottom. The reverse features a floral design and lettering that reads "Presented to Garland Stahl C./Boston American/League Team/By/The Boston Globe/1903." (The "C" after Stahl's name denotes his position.) The pendant is attached by a small chain link to a worn leather strap, which could be attached to a lapel or used as a watch fob. The pendant (approximately 1.25 x 2 inches) displays minor wear and remains in Excellent to Mint condition.
The historical importance of this piece cannot be overstated. This is the first World Series commemorative piece ever issued! The fact that it was presented to a player of Jake Stahl's stature only adds to its appeal. 1903 marked Stahl's first season in the Major Leagues and he spent his first year in the big leagues as the backup to starting catcher Lou Criger. The following year his contract was sold to Washington, where he was converted into a first baseman. Stahl returned to Boston in 1908 and in 1912 he took over as player/manager, leading the club to its first of four World Championships during the decade. Stahl clashed with team president Jimmy McAleer in 1913 and their feud resulted in Stahl being released in midseason. He promptly retired from baseball and became a prominent banker. Unfortunately, the strain of his work caused him to suffer a nervous breakdown in 1920 and two years later he died at the the age of 43 after contracting tuberculosis.
The modern-day World Series was born in 1903 when Barney Dreyfuss and Henry Killilea, the respective owners of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox, each agreed in August to match their first-place clubs in a best-of-nine postseason series that fall to determine what they declared to be the "World's Championship." (The 1903 World Series was the first postseason series between inter league champions since 1890, when the National League champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms met the American Association champion Louisville Cyclones.) Fan interest in such postseason championships had waned during the 1890s, but the revival staged by Boston and Pittsburgh was well received, as evidenced by the 16,242 fans who showed up at Boston's Huntington Grounds on October 1, 1903, to watch Game 1. In total, nearly 100,000 fans poured through the turnstiles to witness the first World Series in modern history. That patronage, with the brief exception of John McGraw's obstinate refusal to play in 1904, all but insured the World Series would remain the institution that it is today. Opening Bid $2,500. Estimate (open).
The historical importance of this piece cannot be overstated. This is the first World Series commemorative piece ever issued! The fact that it was presented to a player of Jake Stahl's stature only adds to its appeal. 1903 marked Stahl's first season in the Major Leagues and he spent his first year in the big leagues as the backup to starting catcher Lou Criger. The following year his contract was sold to Washington, where he was converted into a first baseman. Stahl returned to Boston in 1908 and in 1912 he took over as player/manager, leading the club to its first of four World Championships during the decade. Stahl clashed with team president Jimmy McAleer in 1913 and their feud resulted in Stahl being released in midseason. He promptly retired from baseball and became a prominent banker. Unfortunately, the strain of his work caused him to suffer a nervous breakdown in 1920 and two years later he died at the the age of 43 after contracting tuberculosis.
The modern-day World Series was born in 1903 when Barney Dreyfuss and Henry Killilea, the respective owners of the Pittsburgh Pirates and Boston Red Sox, each agreed in August to match their first-place clubs in a best-of-nine postseason series that fall to determine what they declared to be the "World's Championship." (The 1903 World Series was the first postseason series between inter league champions since 1890, when the National League champion Brooklyn Bridegrooms met the American Association champion Louisville Cyclones.) Fan interest in such postseason championships had waned during the 1890s, but the revival staged by Boston and Pittsburgh was well received, as evidenced by the 16,242 fans who showed up at Boston's Huntington Grounds on October 1, 1903, to watch Game 1. In total, nearly 100,000 fans poured through the turnstiles to witness the first World Series in modern history. That patronage, with the brief exception of John McGraw's obstinate refusal to play in 1904, all but insured the World Series would remain the institution that it is today. Opening Bid $2,500. Estimate (open).