1905 Christy Mathewson Photo - MYSTERY SOLVED

[Snapolit1]

A few months back I posted a great Christy Mathewson photo I purchased a while back from RMY and asked for any intelligence anyone on the board had on photographer or origin of the photo. One of the favorite things I own. (Been my screensaver for going on a year now. . . .) Was it Charles Conlon or someone else? Possibly Van Oeyen as some had suggested? Or someone else altogether?

https://www.sportscollectorsdaily.co...-conlons-work/

Amazing, the mystery seems to have been solved. I probably spent 30 hours searching in vain for any info on the origins of the photo and turned up nothing useful. Zero. Not a shred. Yesterday fellow Board member Andrew Anonstein (TCMA) reached out with info he came upon solving the mystery in my mind. I was dumbfounded and am extremely appreciative. Andrew, most sincere thanks imaginable. Made my July 4th.

Rather than paraphrase Andrew's DM to me, I've copied it below. Amazing to me to solve the mystery of this amazing photo after I crapped out after so much effort. For those who care, keep reading......

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After seeing the initial discussion some time ago about your photo in the Conlon thread, I set out to try and get a definitive answer. I figured the photo was just too good NOT to have been used somewhere. That initial search came up empty, then I got on to other things but it's always been in the back of my mind.

Today, after search for something else, I stumbled across the images below from the 1906 edition of Napoleon Lajoie's Base Ball Guide, which only existed from 1906-1908.

Your photo is CLEARLY attributed to Louis Van Oeyen, which makes sense considering the connection to Lajoie and Cleveland. That second page also solves the mystery of WHY Van Oeyen would be shooting Matty. Underneath the images it's noted those images were shot at the "New York-Athletic Series," which is a reference to the 1905 World Series, of course.

I also found that another of those Matty shots sold in 2016 through Christies.

WOW WOW WOW. I am thrilled to have this info. Is there some chance it was improperly attributed to Van Oeyen? I guess so. But I'm going with him as the photogtrapher. The links are there.

[WillowGrove]

That's great to know. Good work Andrew and congrats on getting the closure Steve.

[TCMA]

And here's one of the Matty images from that second page. Also attributed to Van Oeyen. Sold in 2016 through Christie's.

https://www.christies.com/lotfinder/...7-details.aspx

[photomoto]

The three Mathewson action photos do not appear to be from the 1905 World Series. During the series, the Giants wore their famous dark uniforms.
Dennis

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by photomoto

The three Mathewson action photos do not appear to be from the 1905 World Series. During the series, the Giants wore their famous dark uniforms.
Dennis

Correct. I stupidly forgot all about that. This is something that does go on in these guides, where they drop in a photo and attribute it to an event, when it is in-fact NOT a photo from that event.

So the question still remains... WHEN did Van Oeyen have access to Matty that he could have taken these shots? If the ballpark in the background can be ID'd that will help quite a bit.

[Kawika]

I went on a tour of the Hall of Fame Archives three years ago. Included in the displays I saw was Matty's cap. It's much lighter than the one depicted in your photo but otherwise looks the same. I also incidentally acquired Graig Kreindler's painting of the image.

[Snapolit1]

Wow. What a cool display. And I didn’t know Greg did the image. Thanks for sharing that. Jealous to the extreme.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Included in the displays I saw was Matty's cap. It's much lighter than the one depicted in your photo but otherwise looks the same.

Looks like one of these:

[TCMA]

Link to the cap on HOF website: https://collection.baseballhall.org/...cap-undated-11

[irishdenny]

Hey there Steve! ( :

i remember the RMY Auction of This/Your Matty Very Well...
"i was only left wit a Screen Saver!"

What a wonderful finding of the "Christian Gentleman" ~
i jus love this place... everyone i know thinks i'm a bit off for lovin' this ole' Baseball Stuff.
Mr Mathewson is Truly a Favorite of mine, as He is to Quite a few of uS!
Very Exciting Information!!!

And David Never Seems to Leave me wit Anything But iN Awe of His Amazing Pieces that Has been Collected and Has Watch'd Over...

You Guys are True Guardian's of these Relics ~

(my humble piece of Mr "BiG SiX", i even like the Touch of the Coke Can! : )

[Snapolit1]

That's great. Send it to the Coca-Cola people. Maybe they will license it for MLB adverts and send you a nice residual fee.

QUOTE=irishdenny;2001081]Hey there Steve! ( :

i remember the RMY Auction of This/Your Matty Very Well...
"i was only left wit a Screen Saver!"

What a wonderful finding of the "Christian Gentleman" ~
i jus love this place... everyone i know thinks i'm a bit off for lovin' this ole' Baseball Stuff.
Mr Mathewson is Truly a Favorite of mine, as He is to Quite a few of uS!
Very Exciting Information!!!

And David Never Seems to Leave me wit Anything But iN Awe of His Amazing Pieces that Has been Collected and Has Watch'd Over...

You Guys are True Guardian's of these Relics ~

(my humble piece of Mr "BiG SiX", i even like the Touch of the Coke Can! : )[/QUOTE]