1914 Cracker Jack Christy Mathewson #88 SGC 3 VG

One of the world’s most treasured baseball cards hits the PWCC Premier Auction this month. In industry parlance, the 1914 Cracker Jack Christy Mathewson is a “rarity.” Its sale will likely make national news, and the winning bidder will be the envy of every card collector.

How did this card earn its legendary status? The confectionery business boomed in the early 20th century. Outside of bubble gum, no treat attracted more attention than caramel. Few people believed anyone could improve upon the taste of caramel until Cracker Jack covered popcorn with it in 1896. Next to the wheel, it remains one of humankind’s best inventions. Made famous in the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” in 1907, the lyrics “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack” permanently cemented the company’s association with America’s favorite pastime.

In 1914, Cracker Jack, which the company manufactured in Brooklyn and Chicago, distributed baseball cards inside their caramel-filled boxes, which they sold in baseball stadiums to capitalize on the song’s success. As a result, many of the surviving cards in this set contain caramel stains. Although Cracker Jack fans would argue that the stains should increase the cards’ value, such is not the case. In 1915, customers could also submit coupons via mail for Cracker Jack cards, so more of the 1915 issues hit the marketplace without stains. To this point, almost all trading cards contained advertisements on their obverse or were blank. Cracker Jack cards were among the first to offer fans a story about the players on their flip side, which increased their popularity in an age long before televisions existed.

More than a century later, the card resurfaces in an attic, having been one of the few saved from the 1914 season, passed on from generation to generation. Its thin paper stock and blazing color scheme survived natural disasters, moves, floods, and spring cleanings that wiped out card collections and broke a million hearts. Found in a shoebox with other keepsakes, it remains relatively intact as if it had recently surfaced from its Cracker Jack box. Little did the child know on that day at the Polo Grounds that he held in his caramel-covered hands what would become one of the most iconic, sought-after, and scarce baseball cards in the world.

By 1914, Christy “Matty” Mathewson has won 20 or more games during the prior 12 seasons, which included records of 25-6, 31-9, and 37-11. His career ERA in 1914 is under 2.00, and he has season ERAs of 1.14, 1.28, and 1.43 on his resume. He is pitching about 30 complete games per season, which means he is maintaining these historic ERAs for nine or more straight innings at a time. He consistently leads the league in strikeouts, wins, and ERA in the era of hitting masters Ty Cobb, Joe Jackson, and Honus Wagner. By the time his career ends, he pitches 4,788.2 innings and finishes with a career 2.13 ERA, which still ranks first in MLB history for any pitcher who has thrown more than 3,500 innings. For his efforts, he joins Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and Walter Johnson as an inaugural member of the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1936.

What makes the 1914 Mathewson special? First, it is inexplicably rare and presents a much lower pop count than other cards from the set. PSA has only graded 32 examples, 23 of which earned a grade of PSA 2 or lower. SGC has graded 27 of them, only four of which have earned a higher grade than an SGC 3. Second, Cracker Jack used the same design on the 1914 and 1915 issues, turning the flip side upside down on the 1915 cards, but not so with Mathewson’s lithograph. His 1915 issue is a portrait—not an action shot, which further reduces the availability of this throwing card. Third, horizontal cards are extremely rare in the era and this set. The horizontal landscape of the field and his extended pitching arm present better using this layout. Fourth, the card is stunning. The abundance of words, deep red background, simplicity of the idyllic field, and Mathewson delivery undoubtedly striking out a batter present museum-quality aesthetics. Fifth, the Cracker Jack brand is iconic. The cards of Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson, and others from the set have catapulted it to among the most treasured in the card industry. Sixth, Cracker Jack used the most perfect font to ever grace a baseball card. And finally, the Cracker Jack stains on the flip side give it character and provenance as they take fans back to the game in 1914. This 1914 Christy Mathewson has everything a collector could ever ask for in a baseball card.

This card is one of the most popular, rarest, and best surviving examples of arguably the best pitcher in MLB history. It belongs in the Baseball Hall of Fame or on a wall at the MET. PWCC is honored to present it for your consideration. If you win it, we can think of nothing more appropriate than celebrating with a box of Cracker Jack. You already have the prize.