Welcome to Lelands - Sports Memorabilia and Card Auctions

Lot # 926: 1919 Cincinnati Reds Sheet Music (2)

Starting Bid: $200.00

Bids: 4 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "2024 Winter Classic",
which ran from 2/25/2024 10:00 AM to
3/16/2024 10:00 PM



The 1919 Cincinnati Reds won the World Series, which at that time required five victories, by a 5-3 margin in games over the powerhouse Chicago White Sox, but in 1920 the truth came out that the '19 World Series was fixed, and the White Sox intentionally lost. Presented is the sheet music to two 1919 songs about the Cincinnati Reds, with each four-page piece of sheet music having a photo of the '19 Reds on the cover. Those Reds included: Hall of Fame outfielder Edd Roush, who batted .321 that season; third baseman Heinie Groh, who hit .270 and led the club with five home runs; outfielder Greasy Neale (who also played pro football and became a legendary college football coach); and three key starting pitchers - Hod Eller (19-9), Dutch Ruether (19-6) and Slim Sallee (21-7). Cincinnati was managed by Pat Moran. The presented sheet music: 1) "Oh You Reds," words and music by Hayden Hendy, published by H. Hendy. The chorus reads, in part "Oh, you 'Reds'! Oh, you World Series champions." The lyrics also mention, "With only old man Cicotte flinging the rocks...." Ironically, Eddie Cicotte was one of the eight Chicago White Sox who were present at meetings at which throwing the World Series was discussed, and those eight players were subsequently banned from baseball for life by baseball's first commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, and the 1919 White Sox became known as the "Black Sox." This sheet music measures approx. 10.5x13.7". It was listed as costing 50 cents. There are a number of small tears on the top and edges, measuring from approx. 0.25" to 1.0". There are some stains, some small creases, some tiny paper loss, and the normal darkening to be expected after more than a century. 2) "Root, Root, Root, For The Reds," words and music by Clyde N. Kramer and Hale Roberts, published by the Knickerbocker Music Company, of Dayton, Ohio. No price is listed. This song is, "Respectfully dedicated to 'Our Boys' The Cincinnati Reds." The lyrics indicate a sort of pep song: "We'll root, root, root, for the Reds, Root, root, root off our heads." This piece measures approx. 9x12". There are a number of tears, the largest being in the top right corner and showing paper loss of about 2 inches. There are also a number of creases, some small stains in various areas, and a normal darkening because of the passage of time. The poignant value of the two pieces of sheet music rests in the innocence of the lyrics, with Reds' fans singing along to these two songs, not yet realizing that their beloved Reds won the World Series over the 1919 White Sox, the notorious "Black Sox."

Views: 238