(LOT 467)
1914 Cracker Jack #88 Christy Mathewson (PSA 1)
One of the most renowned museum worthy vintage baseball cards is the ever-elusive 1914 Christy Mathewson Cracker Jack card that continues to be a significant void for even the most elite collections. An excruciatingly tough card to locate in any grade, hobbyists may never come to a definitive resolution as to why the 1915 Cracker Jack set included a different Christy Mathewson "portrait" subject as opposed to the classic 1914 Cracker Jack "pitching" pose. Whatever the reason for the sudden image change, advanced enthusiasts gladly welcome this inexplicable switch made by the renowned Rueckheim Bros. & Eckstein Co. The 1914 Cracker Jack Christy Mathewson "sideways" pose needs no introduction to serious enthusiasts with this near-century old heirloom residing as one of the hobby's most prestigious, desirable and valuable cardboard marvels. One of the most popular pre-WWI sets is the 1914 Cracker Jack issue, with a single card distributed in each Cracker Jack box.

These cards were ultra-thin and mixed in with the sticky caramel candy popcorn, accounting for the significant condition sensitivity of any 1914 example. Adding to the excruciating task of either completing this set or obtaining the high-end Hall of Famers in stellar condition was the unavailability of obtaining the completed set via mail order, a convenient alternative for the following year's 1915 issue. This explains why most superior graded cards are1915 Cracker Jacks, with many 1914 examples exhibiting obtrusive caramel stains and carrying low technical assessments. Regardless, sophisticated enthusiasts will "settle" for any example that resides in the prestigious PSA holder. With that said, presented here is a fine low- grade PSA 1 example that, save some border chipping and scattered caramel staining, continues to emanate a solid central image Matty pitching pose.

One of only 25 encapsulated PSA specimens, PSA's illustrious "Pop" chart indicates that 12 or virtually half of those examples reside in a "Poor/1" holder, more than substantiating the extreme condition sensitivity of this iconic issue. The 1914 Matty Cracker Jack arguably suffices as his most coveted cardboard masterpiece, not only residing as Mathewson's most revered card, but one of the most hallowed baseball cards in the hobby. Mathewson's name alone commands the respect and admiration reserved for these aforementioned baseball immortals. A 1936 charter member of baseball's Hall of Fame, winner of 30 games on four different occasions, owner of 373 lifetime wins, and the architect of 3 shutouts in the 1905 World Series against Connie Mack's Philadelphia club (what may be baseball's most astounding post season accomplishment), this New York Giants mainstay will forever be one of our National Pastime's iconic figures.

Legendary manager Connie Mack summed up Mathewson's pitching prowess perfectly when after his Athletics were handcuffed by Matty's dominating "fade-away" in the 1905 World Series he so eloquently stated: "Mathewson is the greatest pitcher I ever saw. It was a pleasure watching him pitch when he wasn't pitching against you"! Regarding its overall condition, the timeless Mathewson pitching motion pose is relatively well-centered and has retained many of its original attributes; exhibiting fine aesthetics and not impeded by any of the significant staining situated on other areas of the card. True, while scattered scratches and wrinkles exist on the surface, none of them are obtrusive.

The borders do exhibit various stock related issues including chipping along the lower right edge and left corner rounding/layering with the verso also revealing additional staining. Most significantly, the nice central image eye appeal emanating from this world-class offering renders the technical assessment virtually irrelevant, especially considering the daunting task of finding ANY 1914 Cracker Jack Mathewson. If you are contemplating adding one museum quality card to your collection, this jewel certainly qualifies as a grandeur selection, with its regal-like aura and seemingly unparalleled hobby standing justified by a PSA 1 fetching a staggering $37K+ in Memory Lane's last auction. One of the "hottest" cards in the hobby, the 1914 Cracker Jack "Mathewson will forever reside as one of "Matty's" most cherished cardboard artifacts, with its overall rarity and prestige placing it at an esteemed level that will "echo for eternity"!

MIN BID $5,000
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