Original photographs from the early days of professional baseball are rare and the stories they tell seldom disappoint.
Our Photo of the Day from RMY Auctions is a newly discovered 1906 image of New York Yankees pitcher Al Orth, coming to auction for the first time.
The silver gelatin photograph pictures Orth wearing the dark uniform which dates the 4 ¾” x 9 ¼” image to that specific season, the year in which he won 27 games for the team that was then known as the New York Highlanders.
Orth began his career in the 19th century, pitching for Washington and Philadelphia before he was traded to New York in 1904. Taught to throw the spitball (legal at the time) by Jack Chesbro, and refining his skills, Orth enjoyed a career year. He started 39 games in ’06, finishing 36 of them.
His career went downhill not long afterward, but Orth stayed in the game, serving as a National League umpire from 1912-17 and later, a college baseball coach in his native Virginia.
Orth is one of a handful of pitchers who have won 100 games in both the National and American Leagues. Also known as a good hitting hurler, he pinch-hit 78 times in his career.
The photo is one of several hundred up for bid through this weekend at RMYAuctions.com.
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