1918 NEW YORK GIANTS VS. NAVY PANORAMIC PHOTO FEATURING JIM THORPE

The brief baseball career of Bill Herring included an invitation to the New York Giants' spring training camp in 1914 and a brief stint in the Federal League with the Brooklyn Tip-Tops in 1915. However, one of Herring’s greatest experiences in baseball came unexpectedly after he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1918 when he soon found himself in the company of legends. Playing for the U.S. Navy baseball team, Herring and his teammates hosted members of the New York Giants for an exhibition game on May 5, 1918 at Newport, Rhode Island’s Wellington Park. Among those representing the Giants was none other than 31-year-old outfielder and Olympic legend Jim Thorpe. Originating from the estate of Bill Herring, the offered 48” by 8” vintage panoramic photograph vividly depicts what was undoubtedly a magical day on the diamond for Herring and his mates. Both teams are pictured in line, shoulder to shoulder on the field with Thorpe towering above his teammates and foes, alike. Titling along the bottom reads “New York Giants – Wellington Park Newport, R.I. May 5, 1918 – Second Naval District.” According to period newspaper articles that accompany the photo, Herring, who stands just three players to Thorpe’s left in this group pose, pitched for the Navy team on the Sunday afternoon that this photo was taken. Possibly awe-struck by the former team who gave him a tryout, Herring was defeated in his mound assignment, yielding a hit to Thorpe and a home run to Benny Kauff. This photograph was probably rolled shortly after it was developed and is quite brittle. A series of tears and a missing section are mostly relegated to the left border with a small section having detatched. That said, these faults could be substantially dimished from a visual standpoint with strategic matting. Additionally, a small surface abrasion obscures the name of the photography studio, which had appeared at bottom edge. Accompanied by aforementioned period newspaper clippings detailing the event, the item also comes with a letter written by Herring’s granddaughter, who traces the items history. In spite of some significant condition faults, this rare, if not unique photograph retains tremendous eye appeal.