Masterpieces and Uncommon Commons XXV
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on:
2/12/2010
The Yankee Cooperstown bound shortstop Derek Jeter is most likely the greatest player to ever originate from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Yet, even Jeter’s superstar status quite possibly falls short to the unequivocal cardboard prestige associated with this Central America town’s cigarette brand baseball cards distributed some 122 years ago. You will get no arguments from any advanced 19th century collector regarding the esteemed and obscure status of the 1887 Kalamazoo Bats cigarette cards produced by the Philadelphia cigarette manufacturer Charles Gross & Co. Highly coveted by advanced enthusiasts, these ultra scarce artifacts seldom surface in any condition. While player subjects (N690) are scarce, even more obscure are related issues that carried team photos with only 6 different teams known to exist. With that in mind, we are proud to offer the rare 1887 N693 Kalamazoo Bat cigarette card of the Boston Baseball Club in a spectacular SGC 30/2 holder. Amazingly, two of baseball’s most distinguished 19th century Hall of Famers are included in this team picture, legendary right handed pitcher Charles “Old Hoss” Radbourn (standing in the upper right) and the incomparable Mike “King” Kelly (seated “dead center”). Currently, SGC’s Census Report indicates that only 4 other Boston BBC Kalamazoo Bats have been encapsulated with NO examples residing in a PSA holder!
How often is the elite collector afforded the opportunity to seize one of the rarest cardboard artifacts in circulation that happens to include two prestigious Cooperstown inductees? While Radbourn and Kelly are represented on other type card issues as single players, their coexistence on this extraordinary Kalamazoo Bat Cigarette offering provides an incomparable prospectus for any enthusiast with this card also worthy of the highest Hall of Fame cardboard accolades. This superb SGC 30/2 example portrays a brilliant sepia toned Boston team image including vivid contrast and clarity. All 12 players’ facial and uniform details are predominately visible with the entire image well centered between four relatively clean borders. The critical “SMOKE KALAMAZOO BATS” bold typography is well registered with only some mild staining evident along the lower left border. Partly soft corners portray consistent wear with an eye pleasing uniformity, and there are no major creases evident. The overall obverse side aesthetics are more consistent with a mid-grade example, with the technical assessment significantly due to reverse side staining. Considering the back side staining has absolutely no negative impact on the brilliant eye appeal emanating from the team picture, the technical assessment is easily dismissed by the outstanding aesthetics, supreme desirability and unquestionable scarcity.
Keep in mind that any type card in the card collecting circuit classified as “sanctified” immediately arouses the interest of any high end enthusiast. The 1887 Kalamazoo Bats team card issues, by far, falls in this category with any example highly coveted by every 19th century purist. This offering, therefore, not only serves as a strong link to the origin of our National Pastime, but more significantly, as an artifact that supports the foundation of our illustrious hobby. Don’t fool yourself by thinking another one may come your way in the near future, because odds are this incomparable offering of the Boston Baseball Club will not surface again for quite some time. Bottom line is the fortunate individual placing the final bid will immediately augment their collection to “World Class” status!
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