Who bought this??

[CarltonHendricks]

Can someone post a link so I could see what it went for?....is that a press photo?....if gnaz01 was blown out at $1500.00 my curiosity is piqued

[gnaz01]

Here you go Carlton:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-CHRI...p2047675.l2557

[GKreindler]

It was DEFINITELY a beaut. I think whoever won it got a steal.

The only thing that I've been really wondering about is when and where it's from. At first glance, I was pretty sure it was the Polo Grounds, but I can't seem to exactly match any of my photos of the ballpark from the turn of the century to the same depicted one. Also, Matty seems to be wearing his away uniform, from what I can tell in gray scale.

But then again, it kinda looks like this photo has a similar sky-scape to other shots of the Polo Grounds from the same era. I'm referring mainly to the tallish building that was beyond the leftfield wall. Is it possible that this was taken over the fence in Manhattan Field during some warmups?

Or am I just crazy?

Graig

[gnaz01]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

It was DEFINITELY a beaut. I think whoever won it got a steal.

The only thing that I've been really wondering about is when and where it's from. At first glance, I was pretty sure it was the Polo Grounds, but I can't seem to exactly match any of my photos of the ballpark from the turn of the century to the same depicted one. Also, Matty seems to be wearing his away uniform, from what I can tell in gray scale.

But then again, it kinda looks like this photo has a similar sky-scape to other shots of the Polo Grounds from the same era. I'm referring mainly to the tallish building that was beyond the leftfield wall. Is it possible that this was taken over the fence in Manhattan Field during some warmups?

Or am I just crazy?

Graig

Graig,

The sweater has a large "B" on it, which is why I thought it was Bucknell.

[BigJJ]

Thank you guys. I bought the photo. my review continues.
what I think is special is - the iconic and confident "I'm ready" signal that Mathewson is giving with his arm and the ball, love the image - the Bucknell presentation, which with Gehrig at Columbia, are arguably the two biggest early college connections - and how early the image appears to be.
With regard to date, I agree and believe the photo dates to a number of years earlier, lot of review this past week. while it is arguable, based on a number of factors, I believe the photo dates to 1898-1902:
(i) Mathewson is in his Bucknell sweater. He attended Bucknell through 1899.
(ii) arguably, he would not wear his college sweater in the pros, as most did not attend college, and were fighting to live and eat. at least I do not think he would have worn beyond the initial try-outs, practices, and maybe start of his play with the Giants. he was a very humble and pious person, I do not believe, personally, this would fit his way, to wear his college sweater if he had another suitable sweater available.
(iii) Mathewson is pictured in Giants sweaters during warm-ups post-1905, and specifically in 1909 and 1910.
(iv) it looks to be a winter, or early spring, northern college warmup, or possibly a northern pro tryout/warmup.
(v) agree that the no webb mitt looks like a mid-1890s model. almost like a workmans glove.
(vi) does not appear to be 30 years old, looks to be about 20 or so.
(vii) does not look like Polo Grounds or any stadium I know from 1909 era. could be very early Polo Grounds, maybe someone has knowledge/photos in this regard?
Thank you for the earlier comments and additional background.

[gnaz01]

Originally Posted by BigJJ

Thank you guys. I bought the photo. my review continues.
what I think is special is - the iconic and confident "I'm ready" signal that Mathewson is giving with his arm and the ball, love the image - the Bucknell presentation, which with Gehrig at Columbia, are arguably the two biggest early college connections - and how early the image appears to be.
With regard to date, I agree and believe the photo dates to a number of years earlier, lot of review this past week. while it is arguable, based on a number of factors, I believe the photo dates to 1898-1902:
(i) Mathewson is in his Bucknell sweater. He attended Bucknell through 1899.
(ii) arguably, he would not wear his college sweater in the pros, as most did not attend college, and were fighting to live and eat. at least I do not think he would have worn beyond the initial try-outs, practices, and maybe start of his play with the Giants. he was a very humble and pious person, I do not believe, personally, this would fit his way, to wear his college sweater if he had another suitable sweater available.
(iii) Mathewson is pictured in Giants sweaters during warm-ups post-1905, and specifically in 1909 and 1910.
(iv) it looks to be a winter, or early spring, northern college warmup, or possibly a northern pro tryout/warmup.
(v) agree that the no webb mitt looks like a mid-1890s model. almost like a workmans glove.
(vi) does not appear to be 30 years old, looks to be about 20 or so.
(vii) does not look like Polo Grounds or any stadium I know from 1909 era. could be very early Polo Grounds, maybe someone has knowledge/photos in this regard?
Thank you for the earlier comments and additional background.

Well my friend, IF YOU EVER decide to sell, I hope I get a shot at it please

[GKreindler]

Crap. Actually, I take it back. It IS the Polo Grounds. And it's really early. From what I found, it seems as if the third base-side/left field stands followed that design in 1901 at least. Check out this shot of Manhattan Field from 1901, with the Polo Grounds directly next to it.



And apparently, that design had already been changed by 1904:



So, whoever won it got themselves a pretty damn early image of Matty. Possibly from his first couple of seasons. That would certainly tie in with the Bucknell sweater.

Wowzas!!!

Graig

[slidekellyslide]

Great photo!

[prewarsports]

FYI, College guys used to wear their sweaters for YEARS after they graduated. It was a sense of pride for them especially Football guys (which Matty was). I bet I have 30 photos here at my house right now of athletes well after their graduations wearing their College sweaters.

Its a great photo and I bid on it, but it is not from his years at Bucknell I am 99.9% sure. He is older than in other pictures and I bet its from 1904-05.

Rhys

[BigJJ]

Originally Posted by GKreindler

It IS the Polo Grounds. And it's really early. From what I found, it seems as if the third base-side/left field stands followed that design in 1901 at least. Check out this shot of Manhattan Field from 1901, with the Polo Grounds directly next to it. And apparently, that design had already been changed by 1904.Graig

Thank you.

Would love to ID the one taller building in the photo, perhaps that would more firmly ID the place and time. would also love to learn when that Polo Grounds design began, if already in place in a photo in 1901. great info regarding 1904 change.

[ruth-gehrig]

So I have to ask....if Henry Yee sold it in his last auction it would have sold for $____.00

[Exhibitman]

Fantastic.
Another culver archive piece. We are in a golden age of photos due to all the archive closures

[Jaybird]

Here's a closeup of the glove from this photo on right, as compared to the 1906 photo that sold in Legendary last year. Looks like at least same manufacturer to me which is just more circumstantial information to bring this into his pro-career? I think 1904-05 sounds right as well.

[Jdoggs]

Nice picture!