This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 12/8/2016.
Although labeled an exhibition, the Yankees (“Yankees” and “Highlanders” were interchangeable by then) and the Giants agreed to play a best-of-seven postseason series that would serve as the starting point to what we now call the “Subway Series”. At the same time the “real” World Series was being played, and perhaps not surprisingly, was overshadowed by two teams that didn’t qualify for the postseason. The Giants and the Yankees both finished second in 1910.
The New York Inter-League Series began on Thursday, October 13, four days before the World Series. The great Christy Mathewson, one of the inaugural members of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, started Game 1, which was one of his four appearances (all in the Polo Grounds and never at Hilltop Park). The Yankees threw Russ Ford, who set the rookie record for wins that season with 26.
With a final score of 5-1, Mathewson earned the win in Game 1, one of his three victories during the series. Game 2 would technically be the first postseason game ever played at Hilltop Park, where the Yankees won 5-4 in walkoff fashion.
Mathewson made a rare relief appearance in Game 3 during a 6-4 Giants win. The attendance was bigger than for any World Series game that season. Oddly enough, Game 4 ended in a 5-5 tie due to darkness. Mathewson earned another win in Game 5, giving the Giants a 3-1 series lead.
Game six went to the Yankees before Mathewson earned his third win of the series in Game 7 to earn the victory rights to the Manhattan Championship.
The offered ring is made of 14kt gold and was examined by an independent jeweler. It is die struck with, “New York Champions 1910” on the top in a circular style. Each side reads, “Mathewson” with the symbol of a bird with outstretched wings. Inside the shank is stamped with what appears to be the karat mark. It has been partially polished out and reads, “1” and what appears to be the letter, “K”. There are two lines, also worn, to the left of the karat mark, which may have been a rectangular box. We believe that this is the faint outline of the F. H. Co. manufacturer’s mark; the same manufacturer that produced the 1910 championship pins and pendants that have entered the hobby. The ring has been resized and polished many years ago. In the center is a high quality Old European cut diamond, indicating the diamond was cut in the late 1800s or early 1900s. This ring was presented to us as Mathewson’s player ring for the 1910 Manhattan Championship and is accompanied by an LOA from our independent jeweler. In addition to the LOA, the ring is accompanied by a plethora of copied documentation, that sources this ring back to the Christy Walsh’s law firm that was directly involved with the commissioner’s office back in the early 1900s. There is a scan of a newspaper article with a subject line that reads, “Famous Pitcher Practically Wins Manhattan Championship for Giants.” Our consignor has had this treasure in his possession for over 20 years and it is being made publicly available for the first time.