Large cabinet photograph of the 1901 Bucknell University varsity basketball squad with nineteen-year-old center Christy Mathewson. Seated first from the left in the bottom row, the 6' 1", 195 lb. Mathewson enrolled at Bucknell in September of 1898 to study forestry and was a multi-sport athlete, playing for the baseball, basketball, and football teams, excelling in all three sports. Incredibly, by the time this image was captured, Mathewson had already appeared in six major league games despite still being a student, first debuting for manager John McGraw's New York Giants in 1900. Considered by Bucknell University to be the most famous athlete in their nearly 180-year history, Matty departed the school in June of 1901 to pursue a major league career, remaining with the Giants for seventeen seasons until he turned 35 in 1916. Two decades after his major league tenure ended, Mathewson was posthumously honored as one of  five men elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame's inaugural class of 1936 beside Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, and Walter Johnson.

This stunning cabinet photo measures approx. 11" x 13.75" and has been professionally matted and framed to a finished size of 21.5" x 24.25". Presenting beautifully with superb image clarity, the photo remains adhered to its original studio mount and appears to be nearly flawless, with no visible signs of obtrusive wear or imperfections of note. Astonishing for a 125-year-old photograph. While we cannot speak to condition of the mount's edges, what we can see remains fully intact and free of creases or other issues inherent to similar photos of this age and variety. As the photo and mount were framed upon consignment, we also cannot assess condition of the reverse and have chosen to leave the photo inside the frame for inclusion in this auction. A significant photo directly related to the early athletic career of the Christy Mathewson, one of baseball history's most dominant early pitchers and first true superstars.

Size: large
Condition: yes