Here’s the original mid-’20s news service photograph used for the 1933 Goudey #119 Rogers Hornsby card.
Hornsby’s St. Louis Cardinals uniform style pinpoints this photograph to the 1924-26 period.
The photograph is 7-3/4” x 5-5/8” and was described as having a purple Underwood & Underwood stamp on the back with an adhered slip of paper with a typewritten caption that read, “Rogers Hornsby, St. Lous Cardinals,” and a handwritten note of, “c 1925-26 uniform.”
REA sold this PSA-graded version of what they titled a “Circa 1925 Rogers Hornsby Original Charles Conlon Photograph PSA/DNA Type I – Image Used For 1933 Goudey Card!”
The REA copy sold for $11400 and included this description, “Original photo of Hall of Fame second baseman Rogers Hornsby taken by noted baseball photographer Charles Conlon and used in the production of Hornsby’s 1933 R319 Goudey card #119. Encapsulated and certified as an original Type I Charles Conlon photograph by PSA/DNA. The familiar image captures Hornsby bending low in a fielding position as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. Conlon’s credit stamp appears on the reverse, along with his handwritten notations that read “Rogers Hornsby St. Louis Nat.” A “Sporting News” credit stamp also appears on the reverse, as does the typewritten notation “Rogers Hornsby, slick fielder, slicker hitter.” Photos used in the production of trading cards have become increasingly popular in recent years. This is one of only a small number of vintage photos we have seen featuring a player image used in the R319 Goudey set. The photo (8.5 x 6.5 inches) has a few tiny pieces of clear tape along the border areas, a tiny edge tear, a few light surface wrinkles, and minor emulsion spots near the right border. In Very Good condition overall.”