(LOT 126)
1913 New York Giants PSA Type I Pictorial News Service Photo w/a "Rookie" Thorpe; Mathewson; McGraw; W. Robinson & Marquard – Measures Approx. 4-3/8" x 8-1/2" – PSA Type 1 LOA
The New York Giants would capture their 3rd consecutive National league pennant in 1913, and while they eventually fell to Connie Mack's mighty Philadelphia Athletics in the World Series, John McGraw's club had solidified their stature as a National League powerhouse. That fabled season introduced one of the 20th century's greatest athletes, the incomparable Jim Thorpe who made his major league debut with the Giants. While he only played in 19 games and batted a measly .143, he was about to embark on a 6-year baseball career that coupled with his football star status and eventual Olympic prowess, would arguably earn him the title as the world's greatest athlete. Jim Thorpe's major league rookie card is his 1916 M101-5 issue, and it is no easy task to locate pre-1916 images of the world-class athlete as a New York Giant.

That substantiates why this oversized 1913 New York Giants team PSA Type I Pictorial News photo including the immortal Jim Thorpe stands as one of the hobby's most hallowed images, with the youthful Jim Thorpe vividly depicted in the back row, 4th player from the right. If that doesn't "wet your appetite" enough, drop down to the first row and see who is sitting in the front row, none other than Christy Mathewson, John McGraw and Rube Marquard (7th, 8th and 9th players from the left), with the fourth Hall of Famer being coach Wilbert Robinson standing in the back row 5th from the left. Most significantly, this offering includes a rookie Jim Thorpe image as well as the iconic "Christian Gentleman" who added to his miraculous 12 consecutive "20-win seasons" (1903 – 1914) accomplishment by posting a stellar 25 victories in 1913.

Measuring an approximate 4-3/8" x 8-1/2", the image portrays brilliant contrast and resolution, with the only notable flaws being some negligible edge chipping as well as a few black photographic spots that are fortunately situated beneath the iconic central image. The verso reveals the critical PICTORIAL NEWS SERVICE credit stamp as well as a partially torn caption that mentions the Giants are about to take on the Athletics for baseball's World Championship, substantiating this image was taken after New York clinched the 1913 National League pennant. Yet, as most would agree, the photo's foremost attribute is its unquestionable stature as a bona-fide Jim Thorpe "ROOKIE" Type 1 image, incredibly including the immortal Christy Mathewson and their swashbuckling field general John McGraw!

MIN BID $300
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