(LOT 129)
1923 Yankee Stadium Original Photo as it Appeared Two Weeks before '23 Opening Day - PSA Type I International Newsreel Image Measures Approx. 8" x 10" Encapsulated PSA 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 $2.4 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 an "awe-inspiring" heirloom for that revered 1923 season, this offered PSA Type 1 photo depicts the iconic Yankee Stadium as it appeared two weeks before opening day. You can literally sense the excitement by the hordes of fans that would be storming the gates in several weeks to watch the Yankees take on the Red Sox. Measuring 8" x 10", the image itself reveals magnificent resolution and crystal-clear clarity, set between four bright white borders and revealing no glaring surface blemishes. The photo does reveal some modest vertical rippling, none of which diminishes the superb aesthetics emanating from this 95-year old marvel.

The verso includes the International Newsreel credit stamp as well as a significant caption dated April 3, 1923 that comments about how the Yankees will be home to this newly built stadium. A momentous keepsake for this "Cathedral-like Ballpark", it effectively transcends time to an era when the "Sultan of Swat" would lead his Yankees o their first World Championship in this newly built colossal stadium so fittingly dubbed "The House That Ruth Built"! - Full PSA/DNA Type I LOA MEMORY LANE STEPS INTO THE LIMELIGHT w/WORLD-CLASS TYPE 1 PHOTOS For the past several years, Memory Lane has offered our customers some of the finest array of Type 1 Photos in the hobby. Iconic images of Babe Ruth during his Red Sox playing days; a vast assortment of Lou Gehrig images (many of which representing "Lou Gehrig Day"); the legendary Ruth Nat Fein illustration; several Jackie Robinson 1946/'47 images; and a wide assortment of other Ruth, Cobb, Jackson, Wagner, Mantle, Williams, Clemente images have been headliners in our Catalog's revered "Photo Section" that has drawn wide attention in the collecting community.

This auction continues to provide serious photo collectors with some of the most exalted illustrations extant including a Babe Ruth Rookie Red Sox Image and a remarkable "one of a kind" Christy Mathewson photo likely used for his immortal 1914 Cracker Jack subject. It is our distinct pleasure to offer these world-class artifacts to our fellow enthusiasts, for unlike most cards, vintage photos reflect a specific "moment in time", turning back the clock to a by-gone era that serves as the pathway for our National Pastime's hallowed evolution. Considering the photo market's current booming success, it is our unbridled goal to continue offering an abundance of exalted Type 1 images in the upcoming 2019 calendar year to our most valued customers, and we hope you enjoy this catalog's vast assortment of superb photos, cards and memorabilia

MIN BID $300
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