This photo captures three of the most significant on-field figures of its era, with Honus Wagner stepping into his powerful swing, flanked by fellow Hall of Fame inductees Roger Bresnahan (catcher) and Hank O’Day (umpire). The game dates to September 19, 1908, when the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates came to the Polo Grounds and overcame their New York hosts 6-2 in ten innings. This newswire photo circulated widely during Sept 1908, given its excellent composition and larger-than-life reputations of all three men.

The SGC AUTHENTIC grade reflects its rounded corners and creases.

Many strip cards receive “hand cut” notations during grading. Recent research indicates many multi-card strips of this era were machine-cut poorly at their point of purchase, so uneven edges can reflect their original state. Further research could identify who produced this scarce set of about 30 players and teams.

Correction: a previous version of this description stated that this was Hank O'Day's first appearance on a trading card. It is not. O'Day appeared in several different 19th Century issues as well as a number of studio cabinets.