(LOT 127)
c.1915-'18 Pat Moran PSA Type 1 Encapsulated Charles Conlon Photo – Measures Approx. 8" x 10"
This mesmerizing c.1915 Charles Conlon offering portrays an imposing portrait image of the Phillies popular manager Pat Moran who led them to the World Series in his inaugural 1915 campaign as Philadelphia's skipper. Although he would fall short to the Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic, that would certainly not be Moran's final taste of the post-season. A light hitting catcher who also played some infield and outfield, Moran played 13 MLB seasons with the Beaneaters, Cubs and Phillies, retiring after the 1914 season to manage the Phillies. After his four-year tenure as the Phillies field general in "the City of Brotherly Love", he would take over as manager of the Cincinnati Reds for the 1919 season; primarily due to the ill effects of the deadly tuberculosis disease Christy Mathewson had contracted during World War I that left him incapable of continuing as the Red's skipper. Similar to his 1915 campaign with the Phillies, Moran led the Cincinnati club to the World Series in his inaugural 1919 season; however, this time he took home a world championship when the Red's bested Shoeless Joe Jackson's Chicago White Sox five games to three.

While this would be Cincinnati's first World Series title, unfortunately for Red's fans, it would later be disclosed that eight White Sox players had "thrown" the Series in favor of collecting money from Arnold Rothstein's thugs. Thus, many baseball enthusiasts considered the Red's victory severely tainted, never giving Moran and his fine club the credit they truly deserved. In typical Conlon fashion, the 8" x 10" Moran stoic pose exhibits brilliant contrast and clarity, with the only noteworthy flaws being an upper left corner chip and lower right corner diagonal crease. The verso reveals the critical "CHARLES M. CONLON" credit stamp as well as significant pencil notations hand-written by Conlon himself including: "MORAN" and "(Old Cub Catcher)". No Charles Conlon photo, regardless of the player's image gracing the obverse side, stands as a common illustration, let alone one that depicts an awe-inspiring pose for one of baseball's most celebrated pre-1920 managers!

MIN BID $300
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