|
|
| |
|
|
Circa: 1934
Condition: Used
Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Unmarked
|
|
 |
This drawing depicts William Benjamin Chapman (1908-93) in an action pose. He played for the N.Y. Yankees from 1930 - '36, most of that time as an outfielder. During the period from 1926 to 1943 he had more stolen bases than any other player, leading the American League four times. After twelve seasons, during which he batted .302 and led the AL in assists and double plays twice each, he spent two years in the minor leagues and returned to the majors as a National League pitcher for three seasons, becoming manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, his final team. Although he made his name as a fast and ferocious player, that reputation was eclipsed by the racist role he played in 1947 as manager of the Phillies, opposing the presence of Jackie Robinson on a major league team on the basis of Robinson's race.
The drawing measures 9¼" x 14". It was signed by Chapman while he was still a player, in 1934 or '35. He signed on the background in black ink. The autograph is bold and clean (the 'n' in Chapman is on a dark part of the drawing).
The artist was my father, Arthur Haas, who lived in New York City until 1938. A commercial artist by trade and a huge sports fan, he would render the player's action pose in charcoal and pen & ink and then label the drawings by hand with the player’s position and team name. When a team would come to town he'd take his artwork to the game and seek out the subject for an autograph, whether in the dugout or in the locker room. This piece was done on heavy weight drawing paper, and may have been sprayed with a fixatif. It is signed and dated by my dad. We are pricing this as if it were an autographed 8 x 10 photo, since my dad was an unknown artist. Although, unlike sports cards or photographs, this is unique and one-of-a-kind!
The autograph has not and will not be ‘certified’. This would require my sending it away so it can be looked over with a loupe, only to be told what I already know – that it is authentic. Any buyer will have two weeks to have the autograph certified if they desire it. And as always, your purchase may be returned for any reason for a full refund. This item will be shipped flat by Priority Mail, UPS, or FedEx. Insurance will be required. |
|
|
