Lot # 27: 1902 Harvard Vs. Yale Baseball Scorecard w/African-American Player

Starting Bid: $50.00

Bids: 3 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring, 2017 Premier Auction",
which ran from 3/16/2017 4:00 AM to
4/2/2017 10:16 AM



Exceptional 1902 scorecard for a Harvard/Yale contest in June of 1902. Unscored with some age-related wear and slight separation at the fold the notable component of this scorecard is the picture of the Harvard team which includes William Clarence Matthews an African-American player with the Harvard team where he led the team in batting in 1903 1904 and 1905. In 1905 Matthews played with the Burlington Vermont team in the Northern League making him the only African-American to play in any white professional baseball league. In 1906 there were rumors throughout baseball that the Boston Beaneaters were interested in signing Matthews which obviously never happened. Ultimately Matthews became one of the first African-American District Attorneys in the country and served as legal counsel to Marcus Garvey.