(LOT 137)
1923 World Series Polo Grounds Game - "Players & Fans Stand for Star-Spangled Banner" - PSA Type I Original Underwood & Underwood Photo – Measures Approx. 8" x 10" - PSA Type I LOA
Virtually all baseball purists are well aware that 1923 marked the celebrated opening of Yankee Stadium, the "house that Ruth Built"! Led by the "Sultan of Swat's" 41 round trippers, 131 runs batted in and sensational .393 batting average, the Yankees would win 98 games and "coast" to their 3rd straight A.L. pennant. Likewise, for the third consecutive season they would be matched against their cross-town rivals, John McGraw's Giants who had bested them in the previous two Fall Classics. The Yankees would finally prevail against the New York Giants, with the Yankees claiming their first World Championship via a 6-4 win in game#6 at the Giants Polo Grounds home field. As a celebration of this monumental 1923 fall Classic, this ultra-rare black & white 8" x 10" Underwood & Underwood PSA Type I photo depicts the Yankees and the Polo Grounds' fans standing to honor the Star Spangled Banner traditionally played directly before game time.

You can vividly see the classic Polo Grounds grandstand backdrop, the Yankee players standing in their 3rd base side dugout with their caps patriotically held over their hearts, and the "packed house" likewise standing to honor America's National Anthem. The crystal clear image depicts spectacular contrast, with some negligible stray border creases/surface cracking as well as reflecting some upper and lower left corner chips. Interestingly enough, incorrectly scripted near the top edge of the verso is: "Crowd at Polo Grounds standing while "Star Spangled Banner" is played. 3rd game World Series 1923 – Yankee Stadium – New York City".

Obviously written in error was "3rd game of World Series 1923 – Yankee Stadium", since this game was either game number 2, 4 or 6 played at the Polo Grounds (we cannot determine which of the three Polo Grounds games the image represents with the Yankees winning all three of those contests). What we do know with 100% certainty is the photo was issued by the renowned Underwood & Underwood News Service (credit stamp on verso), with the image "turning back the clock" to an era when the Star Spangled Banner commanded the utmost respect from virtually all Americans, and the Yankees claimed their inaugural World Series title, ably assisted by Babe Ruth's three Fall Classic round-trippers! – PSA Type I LOA

MIN BID $300