1931 Babe Ruth, Connie Mack & John McGraw Signed Photograph....

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Sold on Jul 31, 2014 for:

$8,365.00 Bid Source: Live: Floor bidder

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A summit of baseball legends convenes at Shibe Park for 1931 Fall Classic

1931 Babe Ruth, Connie Mack & John McGraw Signed Photograph. The baseball collectibles hobby owes a debt of gratitude to the nattily dressed gentleman standing third from left in the provided 8x10" photograph, a pioneer of sports marketing by the name of Christy Walsh. While baseball stars had participated in endorsement projects ever since the first tobacco cards rolled off the printing press, it was Walsh who turned sports celebrity into a truly lucrative enterprise, building a stable of top-level talent that included the luminaries pictured with him here, prior to a Shibe Park edition of the 1931 World Series.

At far left stands Walsh's most prized client, the great Babe Ruth, whose expression suggests some displeasure at being relegated to spectator status for a third consecutive Fall Classic by the Philadelphia Athletics. Beside him stands the skipper of the 1931 World Champion St. Louis Cardinals and former Walter Johnson battery mate Gabby Street. At Walsh's left shoulder stands Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack, enjoying his last taste of October baseball. Hero of the 1906 Chicago White Sox World Championship season Nick Altrock appears beside him, the meat in a Hall of Fame manager sandwich completed by quick-tempered New York Giants skipper John McGraw.

All five autographs are applied in bold black fountain pen ink rating either 8/10 or 9/10 in strength. The photo itself exhibits some toning at the lower border and a slight imprint in the dark grandstand area above the subjects, but a simple matting and framing should provide a virtual NRMT appearance. Full LOA from PSA/DNA. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication.

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