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1900 Bob Fitzsimmons Fight Worn Glove from Tom Sharkey Bout (Harry Beecher Letter of Provenance)
Great piece of boxing history with airtight provenance from Harry Beecher, who appeared on the very first football card. Boxing glove worn by Bob Fitzsimmons for his rematch against Tom Sharkey on August 24, 1900. Four years earlier the two squared off in a highly-anticipated and very controversial bout with referee Wyatt Earp (yes, that Wyatt Earp) as the centerpiece. Though Fitzsimmons won the rematch in just two rounds, Sharkey did land a haymaker for a knockdown late in the first round and may have won by count had Sharkey not attempted to strike Fitzsimmons while he was down. A far cry from today's large gloves, this right-hand specimen has some padding but is not overly wide, showing great use and wear from age. Included with this lot is the original letter from Beecher, who garnered his own fame by leading Yale's football team to National Championships in 1896 and '97, for which he was depicted in what is considered to be the first ever football card. The handwritten letter with mailing folds - itself quite valuable as Beecher is a rare autograph - explains the glove's provenance from his time as sports editor of the New York Journal. Though it is undated, the black fountain pen letter likely dates considerably before his death in 1948. Tremendous historical value throughout this lot.
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