Amazing watercolor mounted on a June 1911 never-published proof cover as a shortcut to not have to create the Baseball Magazine masthead from scratch. Emanates from the preeminent "Baseball Magazine" cover artist Gerrit Beneker. Spectacular preliminary cover art ultimately became the August 1911 cover. This "Players' Number" featured Cleveland Naps riding in old baseball trolley: Nap Lajoie, Cy Young (in his final season) and a young Shoeless Joe Jackson. Measuring 7.5x10", again, it is mounted to the June 1911 proof cover that was never published. One of two in the world, the only other existing copy is a separate lot in this auction. This version even shows the spine. EX. Recently discovered original from the hands of Gerrit Beneker (1882-1934), the master illustrator who did covers for a myriad of publications of the early 20th century. He is best known however, for the 30 covers he painted for "Baseball Magazine" during their key formative years of 1911-14. These works defined not only the look and feel of the first ever U.S. baseball monthly magazine, but for baseball illustration art for decades to come.