Over 120 items from the collection of Hall of Fame pitcher Christy Mathewson, including photos, a handwritten letter and the gear from his U.S. Army hitch that ultimately resulted in his death at age 45, are being offered through Hunt Auctions.
In 1967, the collection was gifted to Keystone Academy (now Keystone College) in Mathewson’s home state of Pennsylvania by his wife Jane but has been de-accessioned and are being offered by the first time. Each item will come with a Mathewson Collection certificate of provenance.
Mathewson began his career as a standout multi-sport high school athlete at Keystone, then went on to Bucknell University where he served as class president in addition to playing football, basketball, and baseball. During his career in the major leagues, Mathewson won 373 games, struck out more than 2,500 batters and had a career earned run average of 2.13.
After a stellar career with the Giants and national acclaim for his sportsmanship and ability as a pitcher, he enlisted in the army to serve in World War I. During a training exercise with the chemical warfare division, Mathewson was accidentally exposed to nerve gas, damaging his lungs. He subsequently contracted tuberculosis and died on Oct. 7, 1925.
Among the items offered in the collection is a framed cabinet photo taken by renowned photographer Carl Horner, who was responsible for many classic images used on trading cards including the T206 Honus Wagner. Dating to 1904, it’s expected to sell for $50,000-$100,000.
Among the other photos being offered is an oversized (9 ½” x 27 ½”) photo that is the same image shown on one of his T206 baseball cards.
There’s another of Mathewson and his teammates on the 1900 Norfolk Phenoms and a large format picture that carries Mathewson’s signature with an autograph grade of 8 by PSA. The latter is expected to sell for $25,000-$50,000.
Several items from Mathewson’s time in the military are also being offered including his U.S. Army doughboy jacket that could bring $25,000-$50,000 or more.
Early bidding interest has been strong on his footlocker with a “Capt. Christy Mathewson” handwritten ID, his map case with a handwritten ID placard, his officer’s hat and a leather uniform belt on which he penned his name and identification as a member of the chemical warfare unit.
“Christy Mathewson is one of most prominent names in the history of the game of baseball to which we are humbled to present such an important archive of materials. The Mathewson Collection may well be the most significant grouping of its type to have ever been presented to the collecting public with special note to scarcity of the players from the Deadball Era.” remarked David Hunt, President of Hunt Auctions.
The handwritten letter that is part of the collection was sent to a young fan who had requested an autographed baseball. It carries a $10,000-$15,000 pre-sale estimate. Several other handwritten notes and postcards are also part of the sale.
Mathewson was modest when it came to plaudits from fans who wrote to him or writers who covered baseball.
“First of all, no one can live up to everything that’s been written or said about me,” he once said. “And, I keep to myself. I’m a private man. Yet, because I pitch for the New York Giants, I realize that I’m able to reach more young men than the President of the United States. That’s not due to the fact that I’m more popular than Mr. Taft – I don’t believe – but, it’s a fact boys would rather read about yesterday afternoon’s event at the Polo Grounds. Because of that, I feel very strongly that it is my duty to show those youth the good, clean, honest values that I was taught by my Mother when I was a youngster. That, really, is all I can do.”
The auction is now underway and will close with a live finale on June 4.
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