SAM MERGES N.Y. GIANT
SAM MERTES N.Y. GIANT is an 8x6 signed print on heavy paper. This work started with a b&w cabinet card of Mertes taken by a Boston studio. I colorized the pix and gave Sam a bright sky because it was said that summer suns never hindered his breathtaking catches. The old Giants logo is on the upper right.
Sam Mertes was born August 6. 1872 in San Fransisco. He was considered one of the greatest outfielders of all time. With the physique of a heavyweight boxer, he was nicknamed “Sandow” after a famous strongman of the era.
Mertes played for many teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and the (then) New York Giants. One of his greatest plays was in October 1905.
“Starting with the crack of the bat, Mertes looked squarely into the sun and ran with the ball. It seemed certain that it would go over his head. By a sprint, though, he got back and with a jump speared the ball with his bare hand, crashing into the fence as he fell. But he had saved the game and won the pennant.”
The ball he caught was covered in gold and kept in the team trophy room in New York.
Sam Mertes was born August 6. 1872 in San Fransisco. He was considered one of the greatest outfielders of all time. With the physique of a heavyweight boxer, he was nicknamed “Sandow” after a famous strongman of the era.
Mertes played for many teams including the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, and the (then) New York Giants. One of his greatest plays was in October 1905.
“Starting with the crack of the bat, Mertes looked squarely into the sun and ran with the ball. It seemed certain that it would go over his head. By a sprint, though, he got back and with a jump speared the ball with his bare hand, crashing into the fence as he fell. But he had saved the game and won the pennant.”
The ball he caught was covered in gold and kept in the team trophy room in New York.