This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/28/2013
Outstanding, extremely high quality, vintage reproduction of the Currier & Ives print entitled "The American National Game of Baseball" featuring a beautiful image of the "Grand Match for the Championship at the Elysian Fields, Hoboken, N. J". Research done by John Thorne
(http://ourgame.mlblogs.com/2012/01/30/unraveling-a-baseball-mystery/) , the official historian of major league baseball, reports important new information on this almost 150 year old baseball scene. The image shown pictures the 1860 3rd and deciding game between the Brooklyn Excelsiors and Brooklyn Atlantics that was never completed due to fan interference with Excelsior leading 8-6. The Atlantics were given a forfeit and the two fabled teams never played again. In the image, the Excelsiors are in the field, the legendary Jim Creighton pitching with many of the Atlantics' players shown at the right corner of the image. Creighton, considered by many baseball historians to be the games first superstar, passed away in 1862, suffering a ruptured abdominal hernia after hitting a home run. Bright, vivid color with superior detail. Vintage wooden framing, probably done in 1954 judging by a stamp found on the back, measures 24" by 34". One of the most famous baseball scenes of all time. Would be a great addition to your office or baseball room.