(LOT 1686)
1914 Tris Speaker PSA Type 1 Encapsulated American Press Association Photo Image Used for Speaker's Iconic 1914/'15 Cracker Jack #65 Subject - Measures Approx. 5" x 6-3/4"
Presented here is an extremely significant PSA Type 1 Tris Speaker photo that was the exact image utilized for Speaker's legendary 1914 and 1915 Cracker Jack #65 subjects! Indeed, the prestigious candy corn confectionary company chose this timeless pose to affix to their #65 subject for both of their 1914 & 1915 Tris Speaker issues. We don't need to remind photo enthusiasts of the difficulty locating original photos utilized for that player's particular baseball card, and these same hobbyists are well aware that finding original Cracker Jack related images is a near-impossible task. Along with Cobb, DiMaggio, Mays and Griffey Jr., experts consider Tris Speaker to be one of the premier all-time centerfielders.

His illustrious career commenced with Boston in 1907, and while he played sparingly for the Red Sox in 1907 and 1908, Speaker's breakout season came in 1909 when he accumulated over 600 plate appearances and a stellar .309 batting average. This extraordinary offering was issued March 5, 1914, and that campaign Speaker would continue his onslaught of American League hurlers by posting a superb .338 batting average while leading the Junior Circuit with 46 doubles, 193 hits and 287 total bases. The Cooperstown Inductee finished his incredible 22-year career with an amazing 3,514 safeties to the tune of a .345 lifetime batting average, the 6th finest figure in baseball history. Speaker's 792 lifetime doubles stand as the highest all-time figure and after being traded to the Cleveland Indians before the 1916 campaign, he claimed his only batting title in 1916 with a sensational .386 mark that just happened to end Ty Cobb's nine-year consecutive batting title streak.

Nearly impressive as his magnificent batting skills was the fleet-footed Speaker's remarkable defensive prowess that enabled him to play an extremely shallow centerfield. This ultimately led to Speaker accumulating the most outfield assists in baseball history with his 449 record-setting figure, besting the second place Cobb by an overwhelming 57 margin (including a single-season record of 35 assists in 1909). That said, this hallowed Speaker Cracker Jack image is the perfect testament to his abundance of world-class attributes. Issued by the American Press Association, the 5" x 6-3/4" offering portrays a crystal-clear "Gray Eagle" pose as the immortal outfielder dons his classic Boston Red Sox pinstripes with Speaker's period-style glove embedded in his pantaloon's backside pocket.

The glossy surface has eluded any serious flaws, revealing a few faint wrinkles and a more definitive diagonal crease near the upper right corner. Some negligible paper rippling along the upper and lower borders and a diminutive surface abrasion along the left border do not impede the critical central image. The verso includes a significant caption that mentions Speaker may be contemplating an offer from the Brooklyn Federals to "jump ship" and manage their upstart Federal League club. Although Speaker ultimately remained a Red Sox, contractual issues eventually led to his Boston exodus before the 1916 season, with Speaker leaving Boston for the Cleveland Indians. A miraculous offering to say the least, it proudly resides as the foundation for Speaker's iconic 1914 & 1915 Cracker Jack subjects, possibly residing as the one and only Cracker Jack #65 Tris Speaker Type 1 image!

MIN BID $3,000
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