Connie Mack was building a dynasty and at least on one day, his Philadelphia Athletics dressed as nattily as he did. Now, a rare photograph of the 1910 World Series champions is hitting the auction block for the first time.
RMY Auctions is offering the 8×10 photo, still attached to an old scrapbook of Philadelphia baseball clippings, in its February Collectors Auction.
The bottom of the image labels the assembled team members as “champions” with the 1910 date. It would be the first of three titles in four years for Mack’s “white elephants.” Mack is joined in the photo by Cooperstown-bound Eddie Plank, Chief Bender, Frank “Home Run” Baker and Eddie Collins, all dressed in suits, dies and dress shoes.
The 1910 A’s went 102-48, then whipped the descending Chicago Cubs in the World Series, 4 games to 1. The Athletics went into first place on May 2, after beating the Red Sox and stayed there for the remainder of the season. They reeled off a 13-game winning streak in the spring. Their team ERA of 1.79 remains the best of all time. Jack Coombs led the way, tossing 13 shutouts en route to a 31-9 record.
The origin of the photo isn’t known but is the only example of image ever to come to auction, according to RMY, which has over 500 sports, news and entertainment-oriented photographs in the sale. It has a small rip on the left side and a touch of wear on the upper left corner.
Bidding will continue through February 16 at RMYAuctions.com.
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