Offered is an extraordinary period photo featuring one of the rarest of all Hall of Fame signatures. The piece was signed on the back on December 25, 1909 – with a robustly inked “GE Rube Waddell” example – and carries the added notations, "Merry Xmas" and "Happy New Year." This 4" x 5-1/2" cabinet photograph features the great A's pitcher in a throwing pose; its sepia-toned photograph is attached to a 6" x 8-3/4" cabinet mount. The depiction offers a clear portrayal of the famously temperamental superstar, and displays in nearly Excellent to Mint condition; the mount reflects slightly lesser care in preservation, having protected the photo over the years, and shows signs of aging. Waddell signatures are almost impossibly elusive (as he died in 1914 at the age of 38), and very few Waddell scriptings are known to the hobby. One of the era's most irrepressible characters, Waddell was also one of baseball's greatest left-handed pitchers. He led the league in strikeouts for six consecutive years, a record which would stand until 1973, and he won 20 games or more in each season between the years 1902-1905. Waddell was enshrined at Cooperstown in 1946. This is a career-contemporary and elite, showpiece collectible, and one of only a few Waddell-signed Cabinet Card examples confirmed to exist. Given its extraordinary condition and bold signature and inscription, this is the ultimate collectible of this rare and desired Hall of Famer.  Comes with a Full LOA from PSA/DNA and a full LOA from JSA (Z41284).

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