1905 World Series Real-Photo Postcard - Christy Mathewson Starting Pitcher!

Sold For:

$5,040

Year:

1905

Auction:

2021 Spring

Lot #:

2531

Category:

Post-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Exceptional real-photo postcard from the 1905 World Series between the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Athletics. The Giants would be victorious in five games behind three starts by their ace Christy Mathewson, including the decisive Game 5 on October 14, 1905. The offered postcard is an outstanding game-in-action scene, showing a right-handed pitcher delivering a ball to the plate. The iconic Polo Grounds grandstands, along with the bleachers down the third base line, are visible. According to a handwritten note on the postcard front, the scene depicts Mathewson throwing the game's first pitch. The message reads (in full): "'Matty' pitching first ball at Polo Grounds on Sat. Oct 14, 1905. Friend Ed;- I guess you seen the Phila-N.Y. score. Three cheers for N.Y. I saw game & it was great. This is one of the pictures. From your friend Bill Vooz." The postcard, which is addressed to Mr. Edward Keller in Easton, Pennsylvania, bears a postmark from Jersey City the day following the game along with a destination arrival postmark from a few days later. The combination of the handwritten note, the timeline provided by the postmarks, and the fact that this dates from the most important World Series of Mathewson's career, makes this an extremely desirable item to collectors of Mathewson, stadium scenes, or high-quality postcards. Reserve $300. Estimate (open).