Lot # 1456: 1916 Youngstown Patricians Early Professional Football Game Photograph

You can practically smell the rarity, upon viewing this 1916 Youngstown Patricians early professional football game photograph. Based in a highly competitive region that was a hotbed for football, the Patricians existed from 1911-1919 as a member of the vaunted Ohio League, which was the precursor to the NFL. The pictured 1916 Youngstown squad was coming off an unofficial 1915 championship, which saw them rack up an 8-0-1 record, that included a surprising victory over the Washington Vigilants, a dominant team that went 90-3-1 from 1907-1915. Other top Ohio League teams the Patricians had to deal with, were the Canton Bulldogs, Massillon Tigers, Toledo Maroons, and the Akron Indians/Pros.

This ancient football photograph has an odd size, with dimensions of 9-1/2" x 3-1/2", in sort of a mini-panoramic format. Detached from its backer, which has an irregular right edge, this compelling photograph bears three dots of adhesive residue across the top of the reverse, with no bleed through to the obverse. The leatherhead player images remain fairly distinct, including a defender at left who literally has a stranglehold on the ball carrier. In light of this photograph's considerable age, wear is relatively modest. The obverse is clean, the corners are sharp, and the overall look of period authenticity radiating from this this sepia-tone print is fantastic.