1919 New York Giants Team Signed Baseball with Mathewson, Youngs. Linked in baseball history for the Hall of Fame brilliance of their service to John McGraw, and for the tragically abridged spans of their lives, Christy Mathewson and Ross Youngs are yet again partnered on this ONL (Heydler) baseball autographed during one of the most consequential seasons in the sport's history. The 1919 campaign marked Matty's first back at the Polo Grounds in a coaching capacity since his return from World War I military service, the beginning of a gradual decline to infirmity and death brought upon by an accidental exposure to mustard gas during a training exercise. Youngs, in contrast, was a star on the rise, batting .311 and leading the National League in doubles in his sophomore season with the Giants.

A consequence of Mathewson and Youngs' passing in 1925 and 1927 respectively is the enormous rarity of their autographs in the modern hobby, so the appearance of them together on the presented sphere (and on the same panel, no less) commands the highest of marks on the desirability scale. The iconic pitcher rates 6/10 in black fountain pen ink, with Youngs a point below in identical format. Among the other signers present are John McGraw (6/10), George "Highpockets" Kelly (4/10), Frank Frisch (1/10), Larry Doyle (4/10), George Burns (2/10), Art Fletcher (8/10), Mike Gonzalez (1/10). Twenty-two autographs appear in total, reflecting the same range of strengths as indicated in the key signatures. Full LOA from PSA/DNA. Full LOA from James Spence Authentication.