This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 9/8/2019
Offered is a JE Caldwell & Co. pocket watch which was presented following the New York Giants 1922 World Series victory & has been engraved on the reverse with text reading "Joe Page In Appreciation World's Series 1922" around a green diamond shaped BBWAA emblem. Watch is in working order, and have been verified by a local watch repairman. A pair of clasp chains will also attend. To our knowledge, this is the first and only watch to have entered the hobby to celebrate the 1922 Giants Championship. We could find no reference of a series ring being issued to the Giants, although a set of cuff links commemorating the series is known to exist.
The 1922 New York Giants season was the franchise's 40th season. The team finished in first place in the National League with a 93-61 record. The Giants won their second consecutive World Series, defeating the New York Yankees in five games (Game 2 was a 3-3 tie) without a loss.
In the 1922 World Series, the New York Giants defeated the New York Yankees in five games (four games to none with one tie; starting this year the World Series was again best-of-seven). By now, the term "World Series" was being used frequently, as opposed to "World's Series". As with the 1921 World Series, every game was played at the Polo Grounds because it housed both teams, with the home team alternating; it was also the Yankees' final season at the Polo Grounds, as they would move into the then-under construction Yankee Stadium for the 1923 season, which ended in them winning the rematch.
The Giants pitched around Babe Ruth and scored just enough runs to win each of the games outside the controversial Game 2 tie. That game was called on account of darkness, but many thought there was sufficient light to have played some more innings (the sun was still in the sky), and there were some suspicions that one or both teams might have "allowed" the tie to happen to increase the overall gate receipts. Commissioner Landis was among those who was dissatisfied with the result. One story is that Landis asked Umpire Hildebrand, "Why the Sam Hill did you call the game?" The umpire answered, "There was a temporary haze on the field." The game decision was in the hands of the umpires, but the Commissioner's Office controlled the gate receipts. Landis ordered the money, more than $120,000, turned over to World War I charities, thus nullifying any impropriety. The tied game would turn out to be the third (and final) tied game in the history of the World Series. The other two tied games occurred in 1907 and 1912. No ties are possible under later rules, which allow for suspension of a tied game and resumption of it at a later date, as with Game 5 of the 2008 World Series.
This would prove to be Giants' manager John McGraw's third and final World Series win.
The watch and chain remained with the Page family in Milwaukee for nearly 100 years until being offered by MEARS for this auction. Watch and chain remain in excellent plus condition.
(29E0020)
(MEARS Auction LOA)