LOT Old Heritage Auctions  /  2007 October Sig. Sports Collectibles II #708  / 

19707

1903 Chicago Cubs Team Photograph

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop Start Price:4,000.00 USD Estimated At:8,000.00 - 12,000.00 USD
1903 Chicago Cubs Team Photograph
<B>1903 Chicago Cubs Team Photograph.</B></I> Historic image affords the viewer the first glimpse of a team featuring the trio Franklin Pierce Adams would help to immortalize with his 1910 poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon," and its memorable refrain <I>"These are the saddest of possible words/'Tinker to Evers to Chance'/Trio of bear cubs, and fleeter than birds/'Tinker and Evers and Chance.'"</B></I> With the rookie Johnny Evers assuming the full-time second baseman position after his purchase from the New York State League in late August of the previous year, the game's most famous double-play combination was complete and poised to give birth to Adams' sad Giants fan lament. Each of these Hall of Fame legends appears with unimprovable clarity and contrast in this masterful photographic study we strongly suspect derives from the lens of official team photographer George Lawrence, whose mark appears upon the 1902 image that precedes this lot in our auction. Certainly the original ownership of these two photographs was the same, as the same hand has applied vintage ink identification of the players to the photo's surface, and a notation at upper right reading, "Chicago Nationals, 1903." You'll find Tinker at bottom right, Evers second from left in the middle row, and Chance standing directly behind him. The unmistakable mustache of manager and fellow Hall of Famer Frank Selee is found at dead center. As is the case with the earlier team shot, we are aware of no original images of this important team, and clearly none that might possibly exist could match the offered specimen for quality. The 7x9" print presents not a single opportunity for the critic, with no creasing, tearing or staining to be found. The gorgeous sepia hue remains as bold and pronounced as it did upon its issue. An appropriately elegant matting and framing job extends the final dimensions to 16x20", though the collecting appeal for the early baseball connoisseur is immeasurable. As is the case with its older brother in the previous lot, this photo was discovered hidden in the locker of a salvaged ship and is presented to the collecting community here for the very first time.<BR><BR><b>Shipping:</b> Requires 3rd Party Shipping (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.heritageauctions.com/common/shipping.php">view shipping information</a>)
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