(LOT 180)
1921 World Series Game #1 - Legendary Yankee Mascot/Batboy Eddie Bennett PSA Type 1 Encapsulated International News Service Photo - Measures Approx. 8" x 10" - Includes PSA Type 1 LOA
Presented here is an extremely rare 1921 World Series Game #1 photo of the legendary Eddie Bennett who was the ultra-popular Yankees batboy and mascot throughout the 1920s and early 1930s. Born as an orphan in Flatbush Brooklyn in 1903, Bennett had a severe physical disability that at the time was defined as "hunchback", spending some time with the Chicago White Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers before he would eventually find his iconic niche with the illustrious New York Yankees from 1921 through 1932. While Eddie Bennett didn't play professional baseball, his significant roll as both the Yankees immortal batboy and team mascot ultimately led to his incredible popularity with the fans and Yankee players.

In 1921, Yankees team owner Colonel Jacob Ruppert hired the rather short 18-year-old Eddie Bennett as their dedicated batboy, with Bennett eventually becoming their prestigious team mascot as well. Considered a very successful "good luck charm", Bennett quickly became one of Babe Ruth's closest friends, playing catch with the immortal Bambino almost every day before game-time. He was known to take the team's losses awfully hard, and was often seen crying both in time of triumph and defeat. Yankee players would often rub the hump on Bennett's back for luck before they stepped to homeplate and he also became a confidant for manager Miller Higgins, sitting next to him in the dugout and bringing attention to various game issues as a viable bench coach. Dubbed the most famous mascot in the world, he sadly passed away in 1935 at the young age of 31, primarily due to his excessive alcohol intake to alleviate the chronic pain Bennett suffered from the lingering car accident injuries he sustained only four years earlier.

One of the finest Eddie Bennett Type 1 photos extant, it portrays this Yankee legend in an enthralling leaping pose before Game #1 of the 1921 Fall Classic against the New York Giants, with the Polo Grounds serving as a classic backdrop. While a number of stray creases/wrinkles are evident along the outer perimeter as well as an upper right corner chip, the world-class contrast and clarity of the nearly unscathed central image steal the show. The final superlative is the critical INTERNATIONAL NEWS SERVICE credit stamp and caption affixed to the verso. Interestingly enough, while bat-boy/mascot Eddie Bennett wasn't clouting home runs or toeing the pitching rubber, his unparalleled presence surely assisted the Yankees in being a close-knit club, with Bennett serving as an invaluable member of that momentous New York ball club!

MIN BID $300
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