|
19th Century Baseball
4 Lots
 Lot 61. 1887 N184 Kimball Champions Opened Pack – Possibly the World’s Finest! To compete with Allen & Ginter and Goodwin, the W. S. Kimball Co. of Rochester issued a set of 50 “Champions of Games and Sport” in 1887. Cards were offered in boxes of High Grade and Little Jock- ey cigarettes. The High Grade pack offered here is just that. Its appearance is nm. Close examination reveals a scuff on each side of the tray, and also on one side of the box. One scuff seems to be where a tab on the tax stamp may have been removed, and the other, where something was attached to the tray and the side. There also is a very light crease on the top of the box. These conditions have little effect on the appearance of the box. The colors are strong and bright, as though the lithography were completed yesterday, instead of 123 years ago. If measured against 99 other 19th century opened cigarette packs selected at random, this one almost certainly would be in the top 5. And if anyone could find 99 other Kimball packs, it’s unlikely that any of them would rate higher than this one!
Winning Bid $148.
|
 Lot 62. 1887 N172 Old Judge Stemmeyer, P., Boston with Original Old Judge Tobacco Tin. The card of Stemmeyer exhibits significant paper loss on the blank back along with a moderate amount of glue and scrapbook residue. The front, which has several light inoffensive creases, possesses spectacular eye appeal. Unlike many N172 photos, the photo of Stemmeyer exhibits strong contrast and razor-sharp focus. It is absolute eye candy for the vintage collector. The Old Judge Tobacco tin measures 4” x 3” x 2”. It features the “Old Judge” logo on the lid and on the front panel. Above his image, the large bold text reads “Old Judge Smoking Tobacco.” Below it, “Goodwin & Co.” also appears in large bold text. The tin has a small to moderate amount of scratching that seems to do little more than add to its overall appeal. It displays beautifully. This is the first such tin we have seen. What can be said of the card and the tin together? Smokin!
Winning Bid $218.
|
 Lot 63. Rare 1888 “Scrapps Tobacco” Card of C. W. Bennett of Detroit. Bennett’s career as a National League catcher spanned 15 seasons, from 1878-93, including eight in Detroit and five in Boston. The card grades p with some scrapbook residue and paper loss on the blank back. It displays well, and these cards are scarce in any condition.
Winning Bid $148.
|
 Lot 64. HoFer John Ward in an Impressive, Historically Significant 1888 Newspaper Print. On the front page of the Nov. 27, 1888 Daily Graphic published in New York, artwork by C. Rigby portrays the New York Giants’ star shortstop on the auction block with the caption “Slavery Days Again.” The artwork and caption refer to the predicament of major league players resulting from the actions by the baseball owners in 1887 and 1888. In 1887, the owners made the (in)famous “reserve clause” a standard part of players’ contracts. That year, Ward published an article in Lippincott’s Magazine criticizing the clause and other owner practices. He was in a position to do so because in 1885, the players had formed the Brotherhood of Professional Base Ball Players and elected him president. In the article, Ward asked, “Is the Base Ball Player a Chattel?” He specifically mentioned Chicago’s sale of King Kelly to Boston for $10,000. Kelly had no say in his sale. Matters became worse for the players in 1888. At the end of the season, Al Spalding took a group of players, including Ward, on a world tour. While Ward and they were out of the country, the owners instituted a salary classification that limited salaries to $1,500 to $2,500. The new scheme effectively lowered players’ salaries. While on the tour and as the owners’ shenanigans progressed, Ward and other players came up with the idea for a “Players League.” Ward and others launched the short-lived new league in 1890 after the owners declined to recognize the Brotherhood. After baseball, Ward became a successful lawyer. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964. The Daily Graphic artwork depicting Ward and presaging the Players League is large, about 14” x 20 ½” and framed. It is incredibly clean and bright with a horizontal crease at the center where the paper was folded, and there may be a ½” border tear along the fold. Great display, and an outstanding piece of baseball history.
Winning Bid $321.
|
|
