(LOT 131)
c.1909 Walter Johnson Pitching - PSA Type I Original G.V. Buck Studios, Washington, D.C. Photo – Measures Approx. 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" - PSA Type I LOA
Most historians agree that Walter Johnson resides as baseball's greatest all-time pitcher. The "Big Train" racked up a staggering 417 wins and 113 career shutouts to support that claim, with the "Weiser Wonder" beginning his MLB career in 1907 with the Washington Senators. By the time the first decade of the 20th century elapsed, Johnson had clearly etched his name among the game's finest pitchers via his blazing side-winding fastball that was virtually unhittable. From 1907 thru 1909, he produced microscopic-like E.R.A.'s of 1.88, 1.65 and 2.22, tallying his first 25-win season in 1910. As a testament to Johnson's early success, presented here is a spectacular PSA Type 1 Original Walter Johnson photo that portrays the iconic twirler unleashing one of his blistering fastballs on the sidelines in the circa 1909 period.

Measuring approximately 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" the photo was issued G.V. Buck Studios in Washington, D.C., with the studio marking situated near the lower right edge. Most impressive is that this hallowed image was used for Walter Johnson's extremely rare 1911 "Baseball Bats" subject, with original photos of popular cards now achieving staggering price tags. While some faint diagonal creases are situated near the lower right and upper left corners, they do not compromise the hallowed "Big Train" central image that exhibits spectacular clarity and contrast. Early Walter Johnson photos seldom surface in the hobby, with most of his surviving images reflecting issue dates from the mid-1910's thru his retirement in the later 1920's. More the reason to capture this ultra-obscure offering that captures Johnson at what he did better than any of his peers! LOA – PSA/DNA Type I

MIN BID $500