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19th Century Baseball
12 Lots
 Lot 31. Rare 19th C. American Eagle Tobacco “Chew National League Fine Cut” Trade Card. Magnificent trade card, arguably the most desirable of all the baseball trade cards. Calvert Lith. Co. of Detroit produced this card, which has artwork that the U.S. Postal Service re-used in a 42-cent 2008 stamp honoring Jack Norworth’s “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” In printed advertising on the back and in a stamp on the front, the card promotes T. C. Chittenden, a retailer in Watertown, NY. The American Eagle brand also is advertised. The front of the card is a beauty; vg-ex. The back has glue stains; all of the type is readable, with one word light. Great example accompanied by a canceled copy of the 2008 stamp.
Winning Bid $291.
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 Lot 32. 2 1880s Unscored Scorecards – “Low Ball” and “Put It There,” Plus an Illustration. Each scorecard, 5” x 5.5” when opened, has vintage baseball artwork on the cover, a blank back and space inside for entering the lineups for two teams and scoring the game. Both scorecards are free of creases and have an ex appearance. “Low Ball” has two light stains on the back and shows light toning where the names of the “Batsmen” are to be entered. “Put It There” is essentially the same with somewhat darker toning inside. With these complete scorecards is the illustration from the cover of a scorecard titled “A High Fly.” It has been trimmed to 2.5” x 5”, has paper loss on the blank back and has a front that grades vg+.
Winning Bid $100.
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 Lot 33. 1888 Metamorphic Trade Card with an Ad for N173 Old Judge Cabinets. Titled “An Interesting Interview,” this card is the preferable version, with the ad on the back for the Old Judge cabinet cards, which were issued in 1888 and 1889. The card also comes without the ad. Text on the back informs the tobacco purchaser and reader that a cabinet photograph is available for 35 “Slips” (coupons) packed in Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarettes. This card is interesting because a stamped number reduces the requirement for slips to 25. In addition, it is overprinted with “Empty Covers of Boxes not containing Slips, received in place of Slips.” The front of the card has a large, moveable umbrella. When lifted, it reveals two panels. In the bottom panel, a boy is being spanked because he came home from the general store with a cigarette brand other than Old Judge. In the top panel, the boy is back at the store, and he tells the proprietor, “Gimme Old Judge and no foolin this time.” Technically g+ to vg with a vg-ex appearance.
Winning Bid $83.
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 Lot 35. “Vermont Find” N173 Old Judge Cabinet-Style Photograph of John Doran. Represented by two different images in the N170 Old Judge set, Doran played for Omaha in the Western Association. This 4.25” x 6.25” photo came from a collection discovered in Vermont. This “find” included 50 original glass-plate negatives used in the production of Old Judge cabinet cards. The photo has Doran’s name at the bottom, as well as “Copyright 1888 Goodwin & Co.” Apparently photos from this find were originally sold in 2004 as dating from 1888. It seems more likely, however, that they were printed in the early 1900s, possibly as early as 1902. Showing Doran with a ring bat, the photo exhibits numerous light stress creases, which are visible primarily when the photo is held at a certain angle to light, and strong contrast. Doran later played briefly for the Louisville Colonels of the American Association, which was considered a major league at the time. Very strong photo.
Winning Bid $201.
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 Lot 36. Jocko Flynn N173 Old Judge Cabinet-Style Photograph from the “Vermont Find.” In the N172 Old Judge set, two different images exist of Flynn, who pitched for Omaha in the Western Association. This 4” x 6” photo came from a collection discovered in Vermont that included 50 original glass-plate negatives used in the production of Old Judge cabinet cards. It has Flynn’s name at the bottom, along with “P.O. W.A.,” which apparently means Pitcher, Omaha, Western Association. “Copyright 1888 Goodwin & Co.” appears next to Flynn’s image. Apparently photos from this collection were originally sold in 2004 as dating from 1888. It seems more likely, however, that they were printed in the early 1900s, possibly as early as 1902. This photo shows Flynn ready to deliver a pitch. It exhibits numerous very light stress creases, which are visible primarily when the photo is held at a certain angle, and strong contrast. It is mounted on a 5” x 6.75” heavy-paper backing. Flynn made it to the majors for one season – in 1886 – and he won 23 games while losing only six for Cap Anson’s Chicago White Stockings. Arm problems relegated him to the minors for the rest of his career. He still holds the record for most wins in a season by a pitcher who had a one-year major league career.
Winning Bid $182.
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 Lot 190. 1867 Bowdoin College “Bugle” Featuring Joshua Chamberlain and Championship Baseball. Chamberlain was one of the lesser-known important heroes of the Civil War until the 1993 movie “Gettysburg.” A college professor with no military background, he rose to the rank of brigadier general. For his bravery and leadership at Gettysburg, he was awarded the Medal of Honor. Later, he was given the honor of commanding the Union troops at the surrender ceremony for Robert E. Lee’s infantry at Appomattox. After the war, he served four one-year terms as Maine’s governor. In 1871, he was appointed president of Bowdoin, his alma mater, a position until he held until 1883. Ill health connected with his war wounds forced his resignation. Chamberlain is mentioned in two places in the 1867 publication, which measures approximately 5.5” x 9” and contains 32 pages. He is listed as president of the alumni association and as president of the graduate officers of Phi Beta Kappa. “The Bugle” also contains two pages on baseball. One lists the members of three Bowdoin baseball teams, and another reports that Bowdoin “Won the Silver Ball” on Oct. 7 and lost it on Oct. 19. In the Oct. 7 game, Bowdoin defeated the Eon Club of Portland ME, 39-36, to capture the state baseball championship and the Silver Ball Trophy. Apparently the trophy was a solid-silver regulation-sized ball offered as a prize by the Maine State Baseball Association. It was the second time the Bowdoins had won the championship. Soon after the victory, the Pennesseewassees of Norway, ME, challenged Bowdoin for the trophy and the title. Named after a Norway Lake, which was named after an Indian tribe, the Pennesseewassees were also known as the Norway Bears. The two teams met on the Bowdoin baseball field on either Oct. 19 or Oct. 22; the date varies from source to source. What is certain is that the challengers defeated the favored collegians, either 29-8 or 23-9. The team from Norway took the silver trophy home, much to the dismay of Bowdoin supporters. In an 1872 Bowdoin publication, a writer cited “dissension existing at the time in the club” as the reason for the loss. “Men that were recognized as our surest players seemed to be possessed of an evil enchantment…. Not only do we deplore this defeat, as the loss of the championship, but the termination of Bowdoin’s glory in the art of Base Ball. Never since has our name attained to any eminence in the National game.” This issue of “The Bugle” has been attributed to Chamberlain. It is vg to vg-ex with three cover splits of about 1.5” each along the spine. An excellent baseball and Civil War collectible!
Winning Bid $75.
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 Lot 236. Vintage Display of 6 Cabinet Photos of 19th Century Yale Baseball Players. Each photo is approximately 4” x 6”; the six are all matted inside a vintage frame to 18” x 22”. The cabinet mount is obscured by the matting. At first glance, these photos appear to have been taken outdoors, but each is actually a studio shot. The players wear quilted pants, helping to date the photos as products of the 1880s, and one has a period catcher’s mitt. This rare display will make a superb, conversation-staring addition to a 19th century photo or Yale collection!
Winning Bid $400.
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 Lot 237. Large Circa 1880s Albumen Photo of a Local Baseball Team. It’s the Tenash team, which likely represented a local business. Nine players and their manager are posed in ornate surroundings with ring bats, a spider mask, a chest protector and a ball. The 9” x 11.5” photo has edge tears that could be matted out. The contrast and overall impression are excellent.
Winning Bid $150.
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 Lot 238. Superb Circa 1885 Albumen Photo of a Baseball Team Wearing Bib Uniforms. The composition, focus and contrast of this photo, which is on an 8” x 10” mount, would be difficult to improve. The players wear bib uniforms with ties, and the photo is full of vintage equipment. Four bats are displayed, one with an apparent Spalding logo, along with a spider catcher’s mask, a chest protector, a glove and a ball. The mount has gold edges. Ex with a couple of minor marks on the photo and a crease in one corner of the mount. This photo is an attention-grabber!
Winning Bid $390.
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