Lot # 108: Magnificent Single Lot Including Four PSA Type 1 Photos Relating to the 1923 Opening Day at the Newly Built Yankee Stadium – All Photos PSA Encapsulated Type 1

Category: Photos

Starting Bid: $500.00

Bids: 20 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Sizzling Summer Rarities Auction 2019",
which ran from 7/24/2019 11:00 AM to
8/10/2019 7:00 PM




(LOT 108)
Magnificent Single Lot Including Four PSA Type 1 Photos Relating to the 1923 Opening Day at the Newly Built Yankee Stadium – All Photos PSA Encapsulated Type 1

From 1913 – 1922, the New York Yankees would share the Polo Grounds with their cross-town rival New York Giants, coincidently playing and losing to them in both the 1921 and 1922 World Series contests. "Sharing a ballpark" would ultimately end at the start of the 1923 season, with the exalted opening of the newly constructed Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Appropriately dubbed "The House That Ruth Built", construction on the new park had commenced in 1922, ending in early April 1923 just in time for the Yankees opening game of the season on April 18th against their arch rival Boston Red Sox.

Housing virtually 75,000 fans, the construction cost totaled nearly $2.5 Million and was completely funded by wealthy Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert. Ironically, it was the "Sultan of Swat" that would hit the first home run ever in the newly built stadium on that fabled April 18th afternoon, belting a 3-run round-tripper off of a Howard Ehmke offering deep into the right field seats in the bottom of the third inning. The Yankees would go on to win 4-1 before a nearly packed house of 74,200 adoring fans, with ace hurler Bob Shawkey tossing a stellar 3-hit shutout. No Hollywood script could be written better, with the Yankees ultimately going on to win the American League pennant and best their cross-town rival Giants in the 1923 Fall Classic. As "awe-inspiring" heirlooms for that revered 1923 "Opening Day" event, this group of four outstanding PSA Type 1 encapsulated photos are all tied to that historic day with each photo as follows:

A 7" x 9" Underwood & Underwood sepia toned image depicting five very significant "front office" personal closely tied to the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. This momentous offering portrays from left to right: iconic Yankee owner Col. Jacob Ruppert, legendary MLB Commissioner Judge K.M. Landis, Yankee V.P. Col. T.L. Huston, renowned Red Sox Owner Harry Frazee (who was responsible for sending babe Ruth to the Yankees), and acting Bronx Borough President Flynn. The image itself reveals magnificent resolution and crystal-clear clarity, set between four bright borders and revealing no glaring surface blemishes (other than a few negligible stray wrinkles). The verso includes the critical Underwood & Underwood credit stamp that is partly covered by the noteworthy caption detailing this day's historic events.

A 6.5" x 8.5" Pacific & Atlantic sepia toned photo portraying the Yankees American League Champions flag being hoisted up the flagpole on that historic April 18, 1923 day. Relatively clean and sharply contrasted illustration that reveals only some border toning/soiling and modest upper and lower edge paper rippling. Verso includes the critical "Pacific & Atlantic" credit stamp as well as a caption detailing the most significant "flag raising" occasion.

A 6.5" x 8.5" Keystone View Co. sepia toned illustration depicting renowned New York Governor Al Smith throwing out the first ball as part of this day's laundry list of historic events. A relatively clean obverse side surface retains a super sharp central image with no glaring blemishes within the atypical bright white borders. The only significant flaw worthy of mention is the lower corner chip, with the verso revealing the renowned Keystone View Co. credit stamp.

This outstanding lot could not be considered "complete" without this 6" x 8" Kadel & Herbert sepia toned classic image of the newly built Yankee Stadium that reveals the legendary outside "entrance" of this iconic ballpark. Synonymous with the other photos, the "Stadium" central image has retained a majority of its original aesthetically pleasing attributes with only some peripheral stray wrinkles barely visible to the naked eye. The verso includes the somewhat obscure Kadel & Herbert credit stamp and a small caption noting that this historic opening day featured the largest crowd in baseball history!

An absolutely sensational lot, this momentous group of four photos relating to the April 18, 1923 opening of the New York Yankees "Cathedral-like Ballpark" effectively transcends time to an era when the "Sultan of Swat" would ultimately lead his Yankees to their first World Championship in a stadium so fittingly dubbed "The House That Ruth Built"! - All 4 Photos PSA Encapsulated Type I

MIN BID $500
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