(LOT 254)
c.1910's "Smoky" Joe Wood PSA Type I Encapsulated Paul Thompson Photo – Measures Approx. 4-1/2" x 6-1/2"
The great "Smoky" Joe Wood may have been baseball's hardest pre-WW1 thrower, with the fireballer right-hander posting his finest season in 1912 when he tallied an incomparable 34-5 record and 1.91 ERA! That world class pitching led the Red Sox to the American League pennant and an eventual World Series title over John McGraw's N.Y. Giants in a tightly contested 8-game contest (game#2 ended in a 6-6 tie). Wood would win three games against one loss, coming on in relief to beat the immortal Christy Mathewson in the Series clinching game to place the final exclamation point on a banner year. This spectacular c.1910's Joe Wood PSA Type 1 Paul Thompson photo portrays the legendary flame-thrower in a classic pitching pose, and based on the penciled notation on the verso, appears to have been issued between game numbers 4 and 8 of that 1912 Fall Classic.

Indeed, someone scripted "Wood, Bos. Am – The Giant tamer man who beat New York twice.", thus indicating this photo was most likely issued before the final game#8 since Wood would claim his third Series victory in the clinching game. Measuring approximately 4-1/2" x 6-1/2", his imposing pitching image portrays magnificent contrast and clarity as "Smoky Joe" delivers another blazing fastball. No glaring flaws are apparent and the flipside includes the significant Paul Thompson credit stamp that validates its unquestionable Type 1 stature. Along with Charles Conlon, Thompson stands tall as the most iconic photographer of that era, and this seldom surfacing Joe Wood illustration resides as another one of his museum worthy masterpieces that truly capture the unparalleled splendor of our National Pastime!

MIN BID $200
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