On offer for the first time ever is this rarest of the rare, vintage original, on-site, paper poster heralding the World’s Greatest Wrestling Match, with the Largest Purse Ever Offered, between Frank A. Gotch (World Champion) and George Hackenschmidt (Champion Of All Europe).
Held at Comiskey’s Baseball Palace in Chicago, Illinois, on Labor Day, September 4, 1911. The poster was sent to a Mr. Strauss from wrestler Americus, a.k.a. Gus Schoenlein with a message in pencil on the reverse and is signed by Gus. The message refers to Hackenschmidt spraining his leg while in training for the upcoming match and requests Mr. Strauss to keep it a secret.
The poster has been professionally matted and framed with glass on the back as well as the front. The museum quality frame measures 30 inches x 21 inches. The paper poster itself measures 23 inches x 14 inches. By all accounts, this is the only Gotch vs Hackenschmidt original on-site poster in existence today!
Frank Gotch and George Hackensmidt met for the second and last time on September 4th, 1911, in front of 25,000 fans (some sources say it was closer to 30,000 while others claim up to even 35,000) at the newly opened Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois. At the time, this was the largest gate in history, with some estimating it at $87,000 ($2,445,652.42 in today’s money).
