There were few athletes more famous than Christy Mathewson was a century ago. A look at the back of a 103-year-old photograph tells you all you need to know.
The 1911 Silver Gelatin American Press Association photo pictures Mathewson gazing skyward while the back bears the identification any self-respecting newspaper 
man would have recognized: “Matty”.
Like Tiger and LeBron, Christy Mathewson was a superstar in an era when there really was only one sport that mattered. Pitching was his game and he did it better than just about anyone.
The image of the Hall of Fame icon is our Photo of the Day.
The 3 ½” x 4 ¾” photo pictures Mathewson in his glorious New York Giants warmup sweater and cap. According to RMY Auctions, which is offering the photo in its May Auction, what he’s wearing in the photo can definitively date the photo to the 1911 season, when he led the Giants to the National League pennant.
It shows some creasing but is overall in excellent condition for its age. The photographer’s creativity in finding a unique angle (perhaps to show Matty was ‘larger than life’?) makes it an eye-catching example.
The photo is date stamped June 16, 1913, when it was apparently filed after use.
The photo carries a current high bid of $743. It is one of hundreds of vintage news photographs up for bid through Tuesday at RMYAuctions.com.
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