(LOT 332)
Extremely Rare 1918 Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox Unscored World Series Fenway Park Program - Last Championship for 85 Years; Babe Ruth Sets a Record of 29-2/3 Scoreless Innings in the World Series
This extremely rare 1918 Boston Red Sox vs. Chicago Cubs Fenway Park un-scored program has immense historical significance. One of the most elusive of all World Series programs, the few previously offered examples have sold in excess of $20,000, and why not? This would be the year that the Red Sox would capture their fifth and final world championship for 86 years, with Boston President Harry Frazee's $125,000 sale of Babe Ruth to their arch rival New York Yankees before the start of the 1920 campaign prompting the legendary "Curse of the Bambino." Indeed, it would take the BoSox 86 painstaking campaigns before they would finally win another Fall Classic, and ironically, it's Harry H. Frazee's classic portrait pose that graces the front cover.

If that isn't enough, this would be the Series that would see the immortal Babe Ruth set his then record of twirling 29-2/3 consecutive scoreless innings in the Fall Classic (besting Christy Mathewson's previous 28 shutout innings), a record that stood for 44 years until Whitey Ford eclipsed the "Bambino's" mark in the 1962 World Series by tallying 33-2/3 consecutive shutout innings. The opening game would see "The Babe" shutout the Cubs on the road at Comiskey Park, tossing a six-hitter. Ruth's scoreless streak that started with his 1916 performance against Brooklyn was fully intact, and in game four at Boston's Fenway Park, Ruth extended the streak to 29-2/3 scoreless innings before Chicago finally broke through with two runs against the uncanny southpaw in the 8th inning. The Cub's two runs tied the score 2-2; however, the Red Sox would score a run in their half of the 8th inning to best the Cubs 3-2, with "Bullet" Joe Bush pitching the 9th inning to earn the save and preserve Ruth's 3-2 victory.

The next two games would also be played at Fenway Park, with the Cubs extending the Series by winning game five 3-0. The BoSox, however, would prevail in game six by a 2-1 score behind the superb pitching of Carl Mays to claim their fifth world championship. Atypical for any pre-1920 program is the lack of any glaring full-length vertical folds, with this extraordinary 6-3/4" x 10" rarity not presenting the customary obtrusive fold due to game attendees folding the programs for purposes of placing them in their pocket. Standard corner wear and toning is evident, yet most important are the relatively clean images on virtually all of the covers and interior pages, with this super fragile/condition sensitive keepsake eluding any serious surface blemishes over the past 104 years. The critical spine is completely intact with the staples revealing some expected rust, and the interior cover portrays a portrait image of Red Sox manager Ed Barrow as well as a classic Boston team photo that obviously includes the iconic Babe Ruth.

The center-page interior scorecard depicts the momentous Red Sox pre-printed lineup including Ruth in the number four spot along with left-fielder George Whiteman. Popular advertisements are posted throughout the program, with the back cover reflecting an imposing FATIMA Cigarettes Ad that due to America's involvement in World War I, depicts a U.S. Soldier donning his Army attire. Other than some scattered wrinkles, edge wear and toning, this century-plus old heirloom is in remarkable condition, arguably boasting the finest aesthetics for the roughly ten or so examples known to exist. Most significantly, its Fenway Park pedigree places it as a possible September 9, 1918 game four issued-program when the immortal "Babe" shattered Christy Mathewson's World Series consecutive shutout-innings streak, or even a September 11, 1918 game six Boston "clincher", with the Red Sox about to embark on their futile 86-year "Curse of the Bambino" run!

MIN BID $4,000