This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 6/5/2022
As the era’s most admired pitcher, Christy Mathewson appeared on countless baseball card issues during his career. Two of the most sought after are his 1911 M110 Sporting Life Cabinet and 1913-15 Pinkerton. One of the reasons for the popularity of these two issues is that both use the same dynamic action shot of Mathewson. In it, the Giants ace is rearing back about to unleash one of the pitches that won him 373 big league games over the course of his career. While the baseball cards it appears on are impressive, this is an original Type I photograph from which that image originates.
The 5" by 7" photo was taken circa 1908-09 by famed photographer Louis Van Oeyen, likely at spring training as Matty limbered up for another summer of 20+ wins. While there are many posed and portrait shots of Mathewson in his prime, not many true action shots exist – and this is a beauty. Looking at the original, no explanation is needed as to why it was used on various trading cards. The back carries the L. Van Oeyen stamp as well as the handwritten notation, “Christy Mathewson, Pitcher, N.Y. Nationals” in fountain pen. A tremendous Type I example photo of one of the game’s most successful pitchers taken by one of the game’s most renowned photographers with the photo being in stunning condition. The photograph has been encapsulated and graded Type I by PSA/DNA.
Pictured are two of the cards that were used from the photograph. They are for display purposes only and do not come with the lot.