Likely a news service photo. 7.5x9 3/8" glossy photo has superb crisp and clear image of Foster in Chicago American Giants Uniform on pitching mound and stretched out having just thrown ball with three players in background. Lower right has printed text for “Woodord’s Studio Chgo.” Top of photo has vintage fountain pen ink note in 6.75" wide area “Willie W. Foster. The Great South Paw Of The American Giants 1926-27. League Leaders” and lower left has additional fountain pen ink text “Bill W. Foster South-Paw-Pitcher." Photo has a few lt. handling creases, mostly just visible in reflected light. Emulsion has yellowed a bit with age but photo is clean and Fine/VF overall. In his 15 Negro League seasons Willie Foster, half-brother of Negro National League Founder Rube Foster, compiled a near .700 win percentage, mostly with the Chicago American Giants. He played with them for 10 years and led the team to the Negro World Series in 1926 and 1927 setting a league record with 18 wins against only three losses in 1927 which is likely the year this photo was taken. In the inaugural East-West All-Star Game in 1933, Foster took the mound for the West squad and left with a complete victory. He pitched for the Giants in the 1934 All-Star Game and lost a 1-0 decision to Satchel Paige. After each of the championship seasons he played winter ball, traveling to Cuba after the 1926 season, while opting for the California Winter League after the 1927 season where he finished with a 14-1 record. Over the next two years he had 14-10 and 11-7 seasons and after two seasons without a pennant he was named Manager of the Chicago American Giants for the 1930 season. He played for the Homestead Grays in 1931, the Kansas City Monarchs in 1931, Cole’s American Giants from 1932 to 1935 and the Pittsburgh Crawfords in 1936. After retiring from baseball he became Dean of Men and Baseball Coach at Alcorn State College in 1960. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996. Photos of Foster are very rare and they do not get any better than this outstanding pose of the legendary hurler. From the Richard Merkin Collection and comes with Hake’s COA.