Winter 2014 Auction Closing Feb 7
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/8/2014
Before Bruce Sutter became identified with the "split-fingered fastball" and Don Drysdale had his "secret slider", relatively few hurlers were synonymous with a particular pitch. However, many decades earlier, one "Giant" of a pitcher named Christy Mathewson was singularly identified with a pitch known as "The Fadeaway". The pitch had a screwball-like effect which literally faded away from the hitter. Leave it then to the marketing geniuses who produced and distributed "FAD-A-WAY" gum to target market baseball fans during Matty's reign as king of the hill. This is a fabulous and original American Chicle "Fad-A-Way Ball Gum" counter-sales display box produced around 1910. The colorful 7-1/2" x 4-1/2" inner label boasts an Excellent appearance, featuring a lifelike image of Mathewson in uniform following through on his trademark pitch. The lid is attached by a linen hinge on the left side, while the right side corner exhibits a small missing area and there are the usual areas of surface wear on the lid and outer box. Amazingly, the 2"-deep box is fully intact, with the original inside glass cover still in place and functional with its own linen hinge. Below this lid is where the fun really begins as about two dozen period gum balls are still lurking. This is an extraordinarily wonderful example of this extremely rare display piece!