After a few great minor league seasons, the New York Giants shelled out an unheard of $11,000 to buy the services of Rube Marquard in 1908. When he didn’t live up to the hype that preceded him, the sporting press dubbed him the “$11,000 Lemon.” However, 1911 proved to be the season that Marquard pulled it all together, winning 23 games and teaming up with Christy Mathewson to give the Giants the best one-two lefty-righty pitching combo in the league. Rube would go on to lead the league with 26 wins in 1912 and make baseball history by winning 19 decisions in a row. He would become a popular vaudeville performer in the off season and a colorful self-promoter and yarn-spinner that created a baseball legacy for himself far beyond his actual ability. He was elected to Cooperstown in 1971. This Type 1 photo is credited to Paul Thompson and depicts Rube Marquard in action during his breakout season in 1911. Marquard is perfectly focused while the stadium surroundings are softened, giving it a very magical look. Others agree as this very image has been reproduced in many books and magazines as well as being used for Marquard’s S81 Silk and L1 Turkish Leather cards. The Type 1 image shows warm toning from age. The white borders show wear with rounded corners and a piece of the top left border missing. The reverse has the Paul Thompson stamp along with “1911” in pencil and a typed “Marquard Pitcher N. Y. Nationals.” A Christie’s Baseball Magazine hologram has been affixed. The photo has been encapsulated and graded a Type 1 by PSA.