NOTE: The lot comes with the original The Sporting News tear sheet showing the final product.
Less than a year before gracing the very first cover of Sports Illustrated, Hall of Fame slugger Eddie Mathews captivated the baseball world heading into September of 1953 with 43 home runs. This cartoon artwork from the great Willard Mullin appeared as part of a Sporting News feature; the question being: could Mathews crank out another 17 dingers to tie Babe Ruth's seasonal record. The original column - included here - is titled "The Days Get Shorter in September" and the original art used in the piece measures roughly 22" x 16". For the record, Mathews connected just four times down the stretch to finish with a still-impressive 47 bombs - a much more impressive feat back then.
These select pieces were saved by one of the original owners of The Sporting News Original Art Archives. Coming directly from The Sporting News, they were purchased at auction in the 1990s. These represent some of the better images by the finest artists including Willard Mullin, Karl Hubenthal, Leo O’Melia and the unsung hero, Lou Darvas.