Our Spring Premier Auction opens the week of March 23 and closes on April 11.
SPRING 2026 PREMIER AUCTION CLOSES APRIL 11, 2026 (845) 750-6366 | www.loveofthegameauctions.com
TYPICALLY, I TRY NOT TO USE THIS SPACE TO WRITE ABOUT THE AUCTION. I generally feel like our catalogs speak for themselves; they are packed with items you don’t see every day, interesting items for collectors of every stripe. We write accurate descriptions, we tell stories, we stay away from P.T. Barnum marketing. So I use this space to tell stories, or to relate anecdotes about things that happen along the road that I think you might find interesting. But at some point during the production of this auction, it occurred to me: there is a lot of rare stuff here . I mean a lot . One museum-quality piece after another. I found myself writing “only surviving example” more than once and “none graded higher” an inordinate number of times. The first 35 lots in this auction
We’ve got two cards from the incredibly rare 1893 Just So Tobacco set, including the only example of Hall of Famer Buck Ewing, a card that, up until being discovered in the walls of an old house, was only theorized to have existed. We’ve got three rare N167 Old Judge cards, and the best of only two graded examples of Wilbert Robinson’s rookie card, from the 1887 N690 Kalamazoo Bats set. We have a gorgeous photo of Jackie Robinson from his time with the 1946 Montreal Royals – the only example of the photo we can find. We have an impossibly rare 1980 Topps Pepsi-Cola All-Stars set on an uncut sheet – one of only three or four complete sheets known to exist.
We’re also loaded up with different card types. I decided to count how many different types were featured in this auction, and I stopped counting at 270. Two hundred seventy different sets are represented in these pages! From unique cards like the Alpha Engraving Steve Brodie or the 1887 Keith Brothers Lincoln team cabinet (with a rookie Jake Beckley) to the #5 1962 Topps set on the PSA Registry broken into hundreds of individual lots, this catalog is absolutely chock full of incredible cards. I’m pretty proud of this auction. I think in terms of sheer interesting, unusual and unique material, it’s the best we’ve ever offered – page after page of items that just don’t appear in auction catalogs with any frequency. It is a truly special sale. And the best part? It’s just our first auction of 2026. We’ve got three more planned after this one, and we have amazing material planned for each. We’ve got a full year of unique and interesting items to present to you. I couldn’t be more excited. Stay tuned – starting with this catalog, we are going to present a host of incredible rarities, all year long. Buckle up! Al Crisafulli Auction Director
are packed with some of the rarest and most interesting things you’ll ever see. It’s the most interesting and diverse catalog we’ve ever assembled. The piece that’s most amazing to me is the Pete Hill signed contract. Up until this contract appeared, the hobby had never seen a Hill autograph, with the exception of two military documents not in public hands. In his 1999 book The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide , Kevin Keating wrote “Despite our access to some of the largest private and public collections of Negro Leagues documents and autographs, we were unable to locate irrefutable signature samples from a number of major Negro Leagues stars, including some potential Hall of Famers.” Since the publication of that book, Pete Hill has become a Hall of Famer, and Kevin Keating is a lead autograph authenticator for PSA/DNA. But until the discovery of this contract, a Pete Hill autograph had not revealed itself. Some lucky autograph collector will emerge from this auction the first known collector to own a Pete Hill signature. Thtat’s not all. We’ve got an unbelievable Old Judge rarity, one of the only California League Old Judge cards that has sold in years. Charles Krehmeyer has been described in the Old Judge bible as an “Ultimate Rarity,” one of 18 impossibly difficult cards to obtain.
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AUCTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS ABOUT OUR AUCTION
bid, untimely payment, or other issues related to human or mechanical error. On rare occasion, and solely at our discretion, we may feel that an error does not justify withdrawing an item but that placing a confidential reserve on the item is necessary to protect our consignor. Note that this is the only instance where there will ever be a confidential reserve in our auction. 11. Love of the Game Auctions wishes to conduct a reputable auction with reputable collectors and consignors. As such, Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to refuse to accept bids or approve bidders for any reason. Similarly, Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to refuse or withdraw consignments for any reason, at any time. PARTICIPATION IN THE AUCTION 12. A bid is a financial commitment, and bidders are responsible for the accuracy of their bids. Once you place a bid, it cannot be retracted. If you’ve got questions about how to bid, please contact us PRIOR TO PLACING YOUR BID. Bidder error does not constitute a reason to retract bids, nor does a lack of understanding of the auction rules. You are required to read and agree to these rules prior to placing a bid. If you have a question, please ask before bidding. YOUR BIDS MAY NOT BE RETRACTED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Your bid is binding and cannot be retracted. This includes max bids. If you have questions about condition, or specific questions about an item in the auction, please contact us before you place a bid. Inspections of lots by special appointment is available up to 5:00 PM the Thursday prior to the auction close. Contact us for details. 13. Bid increments are as follows: LAST BID BID INCREMENT $0-49 $5 $50-199 $10 $200-999 $25 $1000-2499 $50 $2500-4999 $100 $5000-9999 $250 $10,000-34,999 $500 $35,000-74,999 $1000 $75,000-99,999 $2000 $100,000+ 5% 14. “Max” or “Ceiling” bids can be placed on any lot. They must conform to the proper bidding increment based on a lot’s high bid at the time such a bid is placed. In the event of a tie between bids, the earlier bid received will be recognized as the winning bid. This is especially important with respect to “Max” bids and “straight” bids, because if a bidder places a “straight” bid equal to a “max” bid left by someone earlier, the “max” bid will be considered the winner. 15. We cannot see max bids. We do not have access to max bids in any way. If you choose to leave a max bid, we will not know the amount of that bid. We do not have a fancy brand name for this; we just call it “integrity.” It should go without saying. 16. Consignors may not bid on their own materials. Love of the Game Auctions reserves the right to cancel any bid should we believe that bid was made by a consignor, or representative of a consignor, bidding on his/her own materials. We reserve the right to decline consignments for the same reason, at any point before, during, or even after the auction, if we believe a consignor or his proxy is placing bids on his lots. Love of the Game Auctions is the sole arbiter of this decision, and by participating in the auction, both bidders and consignors agree to this. 17. Our auction system generates electronic bid confirmations and outbid notices electronically and automatically. Love of the Game Auctions cannot guarantee that you’ll receive the emails or text messages, however. We recommend checking the status of your bids online periodically. 18. Occasionally, on certain high-value items, we will institute
• If your package is valued at $400 or less, we ship via USPS Priority Mail. • If your package is valued above $400, we ship via USPS Priority Mail with a signature confirmation requirement, USPS Express Mail, or Federal Express, at our discretion. • Oversized packages are shipped FedEx Ground. Please note, however, that the method of shipping is AT OUR DISCRETION, and we will choose whichever method we feel best fits the item we are shipping. We pride ourselves on packaging all items very carefully and diligently, but cannot honor special packaging and shipping requests. Please bear this in mind when bidding. WE DO NOT SHIP IN PADDED ENVELOPES, EXCEPT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCE INDICATED ABOVE. We generally ship in corrugated boxes, typically wrapped in heavy-duty bubble wrap with other ultra- protective packaging inside. Insurance is amortized over the cost, value and weight of every package we ship. Thus we cannot reduce your shipping cost. It’s expensive to ship! 5. Residents of Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington State are subject to sales tax on purchases unless we have a valid resale certificate on file. We reserve the right to modify our sales tax policies, even mid-auction, as the laws and our responsibilities are currently changing. 6. We accept Paypal, Zelle, Check or Money Order. We do not accept direct credit card payment, though you can pay by credit card through PayPal. There is a 5% convenience fee for PayPal payments. Zelle payments can be made to Payment at LOTGAuctions.com. By special arrangement we can accept payment by wire transfer. There is an additional fee of $10 per wire transfer under $10,000. REGISTRATION AND CONSIGNMENT 7. In order to bid, you must be a registered bidder. In order to register, visit www.loveofthegameauctions.com and complete the bidder registration. Bidders are required to provide at least one hobby reference in order to register, and registrations are approved manually by management. By “hobby reference” we are referring to a nationally- recognized sports auction house or dealer. We cannot accept individual names, message boards, chat groups or hobby organizations as bidder references. If you use eBay as your hobby reference, you must provide your eBay ID. If you use eBay as your reference, acceptance of your registration is based upon the number of recent transactions, in addition to your positive feedback rating. Please note that beginning on Thursday prior to the auction close, we cannot guarantee new registrations will be approved, as we cannot check references when other businesses are closed or otherwise unresponsive. 8. All registrants must be 18 years of age. Love of the Game reserves the right to refuse any bidder registration or any consignment, for any reason. At its sole discretion, Love of the Game may at any time place a credit limit on a bidder’s account. The credit limit represents the maximum amount a bidder can bid with LOTG at that time. Registering to bid means you agree to these terms and conditions. 9. Bids can be placed online at www.loveofthegameauctions. com by registered bidders, or by phone at (845) 750-6366. Phone bids will be made by proxy, by Love of The Game Auctions staff acting on your behalf as quickly as possible. We promise that we will execute these bids as quickly as possible but cannot take responsibility for internet bids that are placed by other users prior to executing a telephone bid. We also cannot take responsibility for busy phone signals or slow internet connections. 10. We reserve the right to withdraw any item from the auction at any time, for any reason. This includes after the close of the auction, in the event that there are issues or questions with title, authenticity, clerical error, untimely
ABOUT OUR AUCTION 1. This auction is conducted by Crisafulli Ventures, LLC, doing business as Love of the Game Auctions. The auction is conducted under the following rules and applicable laws. Consignors and bidders in this auction agree to be bound by these rules. By bidding or consigning, you are expressly agreeing to these terms. If you have any questions, contact us at info@loveofthegameauctions.com. 2. A buyer’s premium equal to 20% of the high bid will be added to all lots. A $100 winning bidder will thus be charged $120. Any bidder who elects to pay by PayPal will also be subject to a 5% convenience fee on the entire lot. This fee applies only to payments made through PayPal (including credit card payments made through PayPal). Note that we cannot accept “Friends and Family” payments through PayPal. 3. This auction closes using the “Double Overtime” method, with a 15-minute rule for the entire auction. In order to bid on an item during the extended bidding session beginning on the date of the auction close, you must place at least one bid on that item prior to 9:00 PM Eastern on the auction closing date. If you do not bid on it by 9PM Eastern on the closing date, you cannot bid on it afterward. To ensure that everyone gets a chance to bid, we will apply the 15-minute rule to the entire auction beginning at 9PM, with the clock resetting every 15 minutes. Bidding continues until no bids have been placed in the entire auction for a full 15 minute interval. As long as there is at least one lot that receives a bid during a 15 minute interval, the entire auction will extend for 15 minutes. Once a 15-minute interval passes without a bid on any item in the auction , the auction will close. At 1:00 AM Eastern, any item that has not received a bid for one hour or more will close without notice. The remaining items will enter “Double Overtime,” with the 15- minute rule applied to the remaining lots. NOTE: There are no exceptions to this. If an item is closed, it is closed and we cannot accept additional bids. This auction may close without notice at any time once the Extended Bidding period begins. We do not guarantee that bidders will receive a “Fair Warning” notice before the auction closes. 4. Winning bids will be subject to additional charges for packing and shipping. We do not profit from shipping. As a convenience, we offer a standardized schedule for packing and shipping, based on the total invoice amount and average package weights. This standardized schedule is $14 per invoice valued at less than $400; $18 per invoice valued between $400 and $999, $25 per invoice valued between $1,000 and $4,999; $35 per invoice valued between $5,000 and $9,999; $60 per invoice valued between $10,000 and $49,999; $85 per invoice valued between $50,000 and $99,999, and $150 per invoice valued greater than $100,000. Bidders who win three or fewer graded cards valued at less than $400 in total may request USPS First Class shipping in a padded mailing envelope for $5, provided that they assume all risk of loss or damage. Please note that shipping fees are based on weight, not value. There are exceptions to the standardized shipping schedule in instances of shipments outside the continental US, or in the instance of large, heavy or fragile items that require special packing or shipping carrier (for example, stadium seats, oversized and framed items, large lots or graded sets, or lots containing many components or requiring multiple packages), or oversized items such as bats, pennants and display items. In the case of high-value items requiring bonded, insured transport and/or transport by special carrier, the winning bidder will also pay all shipping, packing and insurance charges. ALSO NOTE THIS EXPLANATION OF HOW OUR SHIPPING WORKS: We primarily use the USPS and FedEx for shipping, and generally adhere to the following rules:
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AUTHENTICITY, GRADES, DESCRIPTIONS, and CAVEAT EMPTOR 31. Love of the Game Auctions makes every attempt to describe each item in our sale as accurately as possible. We do not “sweeten” or otherwise enhance any scans or images, save for general unsharp mask or image re-sizing, general white-balance or color correction of photographs, and cropping out unsightly background distractions with the magical Photoshop program. Occasionally, an item in our auction may appear differently in the catalog photograph than in person, due solely to lighting or white balance. We do not enhance scans or photographs, but we do shine light on items we are photographing, in an effort to ensure they are as visible as possible. Despite all this, subtle variations in print color, computer monitors, background lighting, and even camera and scanner settings could result in a catalog or website image not being 100% color accurate, and we make no such guarantees. We cannot accept returns due to discrepancies over color, brightness, contrast, flaws, etc. Any bidder who is unsure of an item’s true appearance is more than welcome to contact us with questions or to schedule an in-person preview or receive additional photographs. Similarly, we cannot accept returns on graded items because of a condition issue or flaw that is not addressed in the written description of an item. This includes marks, discolorations, stains, creases, wrinkles or any other defect that might not have been described in our written description or is not easily visible in the scan or photo. 32. Card grading and authenticity: We utilize the card grading service of PSA, CGC and SGC, and are authorized dealers of each. Additionally, we occasionally offer cards graded by Beckett or, on rare occasion, GAI. We use the autograph authentication services of PSA/DNA and JSA, the photo authentication services of PSA/DNA, the equipment certification services of PSA/DNA and MEARS. As stated above, we make every effort to properly represent and describe items in our auction. However, we cannot be held responsible for the opinion of a third-party grader or authenticator. As most collectors understand, opinions on grade or authenticity, while typically rendered by skilled workers with vast experience, are exactly that: opinions. We cannot guarantee that every card graded by a third- party grading service, or every item authenticated by a professional authenticator, would receive the same grade upon resubmission to a different (or even the same) grading service, nor would we guarantee that the item would receive a grade or be authenticated at all. All we can tell you is the number on the holder and the company that graded it. WHEN YOU PURCHASE A GRADED OR AUTHENTICATED ITEM FROM US, YOU ARE PURCHASING AN ITEM GRADED OR AUTHENTICATED BY THAT COMPANY. YOU ARE NOT PURCHASING THE PROMISE THAT A COMPETING GRADING COMPANY WILL RENDER THE SAME DECISION OR ANY DECISION AT ALL. All sales are final, and we do not warrant items will “cross” from one grading company or authenticator to another. This is important: if a graded card that we sell is subsequently discovered to be overgraded or altered, we cannot be held responsible. We do our best to ensure that the items we sell are as described, but we cannot be held responsible for the opinion of an unrelated party, including the accuracy of a grade and whether flaws or alterations were “missed.” We do not warrant or guarantee any item authenticated or graded by a third party. Graded and/or authenticated items are sold “as is.” THIS IS IMPORTANT: Love of the Game shall not in any way be liable for any defect (either patent or latent) or controversy pertaining to or arising from any encapsulated collectible. In any such instance, the buyer’s remedy, if any, shall be solely against the authentication or grading company certifying the collectible. All graded cards are sold “as is” with no exceptions. Your participation in the auction constitutes your acknowledgement, agreement and acceptance of this rule.
us that the best way to avoid issues is to hold each check for 7 days. This means that on the 8th day, we make sure checks have cleared, and then we forward the invoice to shipping. This does not mean your item will be shipped right away. It means it is “ready to ship,” and is in queue with all the other packages that have been paid for. We realize this is a one-week delay, which is why we offer a variety of electronic payment methods for bidders to get their winnings more quickly. While paying by check does require some patience, we can assure you that we are still quicker than most auction houses. 23. Insurance is provided by Collectibles Insurance Services. The buyer assumes the risk of loss on all items purchased once we ship said items. Shipping carriers are chosen at our discretion. In no event and under no circumstance will the liability of Love of the Game exceed the purchase price paid for any lot. 24. We will not commit customs fraud on packages shipped outside the United States. 25. All items are purchased “AS IS” and may not be returned for any reason. No returns are permitted. 26. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. All items are offered “as is.” 27. We accept PayPal, Zelle, checks, certified checks, cash or money orders. We do not accept any other form of payment. We can, by special arrangement, accept payment by wire transfer. Wire transfers under $10,000 are subject to an additional $10 fee. We ship as soon as possible after payment in full is received. Ownership of any lot does not pass to the winning bidder until the lot is paid for in full, nor do we ship items to winning bidders without first receiving payment. 28. If a winning bidder has not honored his/her winning bid per these terms and conditions, then Love of the Game Auctions is entitled to sell the winning lot, reauction the lot, or hold the non-paying bidder responsible for the entire amount, at our discretion, with the bidder responsible for the difference between the price received at resale and the non-paying bidder’s original bid. If the item is sold for more than what the bidder owns Love of the Game Auctions, Love of the Game Auctions is under no obligation to make the difference available to the bidder, and may retain the additional proceeds. Love of the Game Auctions is also entitled to publicly disclose the names and locations of all reneging bidders, as well as any aliases or online handles. Bidding in our auction constitutes your agreement to our auction rules. As a bidder, you agree that a non-paying bidder is responsible for any and all losses incurred, plus all fees and/ or commissions related to the subsequent sale of the item(s). Reneging or nonpaying bidders are also responsible for interest charges at the rate of 2% per month for all outstanding balances until paid in full, as well as all legal fees and court costs incurred by Love of the Game Auctions in our efforts to collect their unpaid debt. In other words, if a winning bidder does not pay in full, he/she agrees to be held responsible for the value of the lot, any losses incurred as a result of having to re-sell the lot, plus interest charges of 2% per month on all unpaid balances, plus legal and court fees. HOUSEKEEPING 29. Bidder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Love of the Game Auctions, its owners, employees, officers, agents, successors, and assigns from any claims, losses, liabilities, damages, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of the bidder’s participation in the auction, alleged bidding errors, or violation of these Terms & Conditions. 30. Create Auction Technologies LLC (‘Create Auction’) provides hosting, software, and platform services for this auction. Create Auction shall receive the same rights, protections, limitations of liability, disclaimers, and indemnifications granted to Love of the Game Auctions under these Terms & Conditions. All references to Love of the Game Auctions’ ‘auction site,’ ‘auction service,’ or ‘auction platform’ shall be deemed to include Create Auction Technologies LLC.
a reserve to protect our consignor. Approximately one week prior to the auction closing, we disclose the specific dollar amount of any reserves that have not been met. When we disclose the reserve, the current bid will be set to one increment below the reserve amount, and the next bid will meet the reserve. PLEASE NOTE: The reserve should be treated as a “bidder.” If you choose to leave a max bid that is greater than the reserve, your bid will automatically meet the reserve, and you will become the high bidder at the reserve price. It is our typical policy to disclose whether an item has a reserve, right in the description of that item. If the bidding meets the reserve, the item will sell. We do not permit consignors to add reserves after the auction is underway, and we will not accept a consignment with a reserve unless it is specifically agreed upon prior to the auction. 19. Love of the Game Auctions, its owner or employees are not permitted to bid on any lot in the auction, under any circumstances. Bidders are not bidding against any “house account.” There is no “house account.” 20. Unsold or unpaid lots may be privately sold or re-auctioned at our discretion. Should Love of the Game elect to pay the consignor for an unpaid lot, we take ownership of that item and can re-sell it at our discretion. 21. If, for any reason, our auction is interrupted during bidding, Love of the Game Auctions may elect to extend bidding beyond the stated closing date or time. In the case of a serious outage that we feel impacts bidding, Love of the Game Auctions may elect to take more extreme measures to ensure that bidding is fair and all bidders have had sufficient opportunities to place their bids. Such measures may include stopping all bidding and re-starting from the point of stoppage on a subsequent day, and/or pushing the scheduled auction closing to a later date, or any other remedy that we feel is appropriate. This decision is entirely at the discretion of Love of the Game, and by bidding in our auction, you agree to this. If any bidder experiences a problem bidding, they should contact us at info@loveofthegameauctions.com. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY 22. INVOICES ARE SENT OUT THE MONDAY EVENING FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF THE AUCTION. Payment must be received on all winning bids within 14 calendar days of notification of items won. This is not negotiable, as it is important to us to pay our consignors as quickly as possible. Notifications and invoices are sent by email, except in the event that a phone bidder has no email address. These methods shall constitute “notification” of winning. It is your responsibility to check your account to see if you are a winning bidder. Any bidder not paid in full within 14 days of notification may have future bidding and consigning privileges revoked, and will be subject to legal action. Additionally, we will publish the full name and location of all reneging bidders in our printed catalog, on our website and on our social media as a reneging bidder, and we will forward your name to other auction houses for informational purposes. Should an account be late with payment more than once, it is our policy to assign a credit limit to that account. Your bidding in our auction constitutes agreement to all these rules and policies, especially this one. Payments by check or money order should be made to Love of the Game Auctions, PO Box 3931, Kingston, NY, 12402. We make every effort to ship as quickly as possible. We generally ship under a “First In, First Out” policy, meaning we ship packages in the order that payment was received, unless there are extenuating circumstances. If you make your payment by PayPal or Zelle, your payment is processed immediately and forwarded to shipping. This does not mean your item will be shipped right away. It means it is “ready to ship,” and is in queue with all the other packages that have been paid for. We hold all checks for 7 days. Please note that the above does not say “we hold all checks until they clear,” it says “we hold all checks for 7 days.” Our bank has advised
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SPRING 2026 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES APRIL 11, 2026
Featured Items.................................................................................................................................................................6 Great Cards....................................................................................................................................................................16 Prewar Memorabilia.....................................................................................................................................................42 Postwar Memorabilia...................................................................................................................................................46 Baseball Photography...................................................................................................................................................53 Baseball Postcards.........................................................................................................................................................61 19th Century Baseball Cards.......................................................................................................................................61 1900-1948 Baseball Cards............................................................................................................................................85 1949-Present Baseball Cards.....................................................................................................................................135 1962 Topps High Grade Set.......................................................................................................................................150 Football Cards.............................................................................................................................................................207 Basketball Cards..........................................................................................................................................................213 Other Sports/Non-Sports Cards...............................................................................................................................215 Other Sports Memorabilia.........................................................................................................................................216 Autographed Baseballs...............................................................................................................................................217 Autographed Baseball Cards.....................................................................................................................................218 Autographed Flats, Photos, etc..................................................................................................................................226 Other Sports Autographs...........................................................................................................................................233 Pop Culture/Americana.............................................................................................................................................236 TABLE OF CONTENTS IMPORTANT NOTE: Customers in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania,Virginia and Washington are subject to the appropriate state sales tax if we do not have a valid resale certificate on file.
AL CRISAFULLI – Auction Director ANDREW ARONSTEIN – Operations Manager SANDY CRISAFULLI – Finance Manager TIM GALLAGHER – Consignment Director SPIKE GLIDDEN – Copywriter STEPHANIE KOWALSKY – Graphic Designer EVELYN MARIE ROSE – Marketing Coordinator CARY SMITH – Inventory Coordinator
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1. 1917 Boston Store #147 Babe Ruth (HOF) – PSA PR 1
Issued in 1917 by a Chicago (not Boston) department store, the H801-8 Boston Store issue utilizes the same images and checklist as the E135 Col- lins-McCarthy set, but with back advertising promoting the store. The card design was similar to the Mendelsohn-issued M101-4/5 series of the pri- or year, though =slightly larger in size, and printed on somewhat thinner stock. The Boston Store cards are rarer than the E135 Collins-McCarthy and are also rarer than many of the M101-4/5 issues. Presented here is a significant rarity and the key card to the set: that of Babe Ruth. Graded PR 1 by PSA, the card presents extremely well for the grade, with some toning and foxing visible on the card front, along with some sur- face and edge wear, along with minor creasing consistent with the grade. Creasing does not disrupt the image area to any great degree, but can be seen to the left of Ruth’s head: a series of diagonal spider creases in the up- per-left corner, extending downward towards his pitching arm. Additional minor creasing is visible in the text area, the deepest of which can be ob- served running northward from the bottom edge. Surface wear results in a light discoloration at the right edge. Despite the wear, the image quality is exceptional, the card presenting remarkably well given the aforementioned flaws. The card, while accurately graded, is strong for the grade; the majority of the creasing is most visible while holding the card at an angle in the light. Boston Store cards were sold by the store in eight series of 25 cards begin- ning in April of 1917 and running through June, with 25 new cards released each week and sold for two cents per series. Based on available advertising, we know that just 5,000 sets were produced, making the cards scarce at the outset. They do not appear to have ever been offered as a complete set. According to our research, the first print advertisement featuring these cards ran on Thursday, April 13 in the Chicago Daily News (though it is pos- sible that additional advertising that we have not discovered ran elsewhere). The ad featured a list of the first series of 25 cards. Each week thereafter, the
store advertised the next series of cards while highlighting the availability of the previous series. After the completion of the eighth series on June 1, advertising for the cards ceased, meaning that while the first series of cards was offered for eight weeks, the final series was only advertised once. Since the cards were issued alphabetically, Ruth was part of the sixth series, available for sale for just three weeks before the promotion ended. This may account for the rarity of the card. In contrast, the population reports count 32 M101-4 Ruths between the Sporting News and blank- backed versions. Indeed, the Boston Store Ruth is among his more rare, with a known population more in line with that of his Baltimore News card, which has reached seven figures in recent years. While several Ruth cards from this issue have been offered at auction recently, do not let that influence your opinion of the card’s rarity. Just 11 examples have been graded, and we feel confident that at least one has been crossed from one grading company to another without having been removed from the population reports. It is one of the rarest of all Babe Ruth’s cards, a rare regional issue that was produced in limited quantities and sold only for a brief time. Featuring an early image of the game’s greatest player while still with the Red Sox, a Boston Store Ruth is one of the hobby’s truly great cards. MINIMUM BID: $25,000
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2. Impossibly Rare 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes California League #268-1 Charles Krehmeyer – PSA PR 1(MK)
Considered one of the rarest of all Old Judge cards, Charles Krehmeyer is part of the highly coveted N172 California League cards. The Califor- nia League cards were a special subset of cards issued only in 1889, all but one of which were derived from photographs taken outdoors at the ballpark (the only Old Judge cards besides those of Brooklyn players to be photographed outside). Just 19 different players are known to be part of this subset, and just one is known to have poses outside the California League subset. Almost certainly distributed solely in sparsely populated West Coast markets, the cards are incredibly rare today: in the case of some players, there is just one example known. Indeed the 18 California League players who do not have N172 cards with other teams are con- sidered the 18 “ultimate rarities” in The Photographic Baseball Cards of Goodwin and Co. St. Louis native Charles Krehmeyer played just two seasons in the majors, playing for the Browns in 1884 and splitting 1885 between the Louisville Colonels and the St. Louis Maroons. Records exist showing 12 seasons of pro ball including a stop in Sacramento, with which he is pictured here. The definition of “journeyman,” Krehmeyer played with at least 23 teams in that time period, his Old Judge card the only known card documenting his baseball career. There are likely only three or four examples of this card in existence. California League Old Judges are unbelievably rare and highly prized among advanced collectors. In the past, common players in low grade have reached six figures, as serious hobbyists find these cards to be the most desirable 19th Century cards. They seldom become available for sale; this is the first we have ever handled, and we may never see another. It is a privilege just to have this card in our office! A truly elite rarity, an incredible card, and certainly one of the most important artifacts we have ever offered. MINIMUM BID: $20,000
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Presented here is one of the most important sports artifacts we have ever seen, simply due to its extreme rarity. Until now, only two Pete Hill signatures were known – both on govern- ment draft records – making this the first and only example ever offered publicly. Pete Hill was one of the great outfielders in Negro League history. He played with some of the best-known Black baseball teams: the Phil- adelphia Giants, Leland Giants, and Chicago American Giants. He began his professional career sometime between 1899 and 1901, but records of the earliest days of his career are spotty, at best, simply due to the lack of media coverage. By 1904, however, he was playing in Philadelphia, managed by Sol White. A speedy outfielder with impressive defensive skill, Hill often drew comparisons with Ty Cobb due to his aggressive play. Though his records indi- cate a .303 average in post-1920 baseball, his early numbers were far more gaudy: A .604 batting average in 51 plate appearances with Philadelphia in 1905, 27 RBI in 22 games in 1910, 18 stolen bases in 35 games in the Cuban Winter League in 1907-08. Hill was certainly one of the great players of his era. In 1923, Hill became player-manager of the Milwaukee Bears of the Negro National League, finishing in last place with Hill draw- ing criticism as both a player and manager. Motivated by the critics, Hill then moved on to the Baltimore Black Sox of the Eastern Col- ored League, a new league founded by Hilldale team owner Ed Bolden. Hill was introduced as the team manager in November of 1923, the Baltimore Afro-American reporting that Hill 3. Incredible Pete Hill Signed 1923 Baltimore Black Sox Player Contract – The Only Known Pete Hill Auto- graph (HOF) – PSA/DNA
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would be given complete control of the club, “with the right to hire and fire.” It was also reported that Hill would be “expected to bring some nine players with him from the West.” Hill reportedly raided the Negro National League, including his former Bears team. From that team, he brought with him first baseman Percy Wilson. Though Wilson would not play much, spending most of the 1924 sea- son on the bench, he was introduced in the pages of the Afro-Ameri- can ’s March 21 issue. And although Wilson was not a regular on the team, the great thing he did was save his contract . That contract, dated November 4, 1923, in addition to being signed by Wilson and club president George Rossiter, was also signed by Pete Hill, making it the only known, publicly available Pete Hill autograph. What’s more, Hill actually signed the contract twice , as he provided a note at the top reading “Keep this contract and send the other one back to me.” Hill wrote all the notes on the contract. The contract was discovered with a group of documents and pho- tos belonging to Percy Wilson. Measuring approximately 8 1/2” x 15
3/4”, the contract is printed on extremely delicate paper that has been stored folded for many years, yielding heavy creases at the folds along with some small holes in the weakened areas. Creasing is visible at the edges, along with some tiny edge tears, and a couple of small holes can be seen at the upper right. Uneven toning is evident throughout. The entire piece is very fragile. The signatures are extremely legible, as is all of Hill’s writing throughout, though Hill’s signature appears to be in pencil. In the 1999 book The Negro Leagues Autograph Guide , author Kevin Keating places Hill in the “Ones that Got Away” section, writing “De- spite our access to some of the largest private and public collections of Negro Leagues documents and autographs, we were unable to locate irrefutable signature samples from a number of major Negro Leagues stars, including some potential Hall of Famers.” Hill, who passed away in 1951, was inducted in 2006, is one of very few Hall of Famers for whom no confirmed examples of their autograph exist. Until now. An incredible find for Negro League and Hall of Fame collectors alike, we are thrilled to present the only known examplar of an autograph of Pete Hill.
MINIMUM BID: $10,000
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4. Extraordinary 1968 Topps Complete Set (598) – #1 on the SGC Set Registry!
The 1968 Topps baseball issue features one of the company’s most unique designs. With each card surrounded by a border that appears to be burlap fabric, with the player’s name typeset into the border itself. The unique border is reminiscent of 1962 Topps or 1955 Bowman, in that the edges and corners are subject to wear. Centering is also a notorious condition issue with the set. Assembling a truly high-grade complete set is extremely difficult, and given the number of key cards in the set – rookie cards of Nolan Ryan and Johnny Bench, along with many Hall of Famers – a high- grade set is extremely desirable. Presented is an extraordinary complete set. Assembled diligently by a long-time collector during the years when SGC had a reputation for being the toughest, most consistent and most knowledgeable vintage grading company, this set stood above all others as the #1 set on SGC’s Set Registry. At the time, some of the hobby’s finest
vintage collections were showcased on SGC’s registry, though they discontinued the registry during a website redesign around a decade ago. This set is simply wonderful, with no card graded lower than NM-MT 8 (SGC 88). The set was largely collected in the 1990s and early 2000s, with a few upgrades taking place since. Every card has been graded by SGC. A complete condition breakdown is as follows: .06% GEM MINT 10; 22% MINT 9; 37% NM-MT+ 8.5; and 39% NM-MT 8. Key cards grade as follows: #20 B. Robinson (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #37 Williams (SGC NM- MT 8), #45 Seaver (SGC NM-MT 8), #50 Mays (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #58 Mathews (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #80 Carew (SGC NM-MT 8), #85 Perry (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #86 Stargell (SGC NM-MT 8), #100 Gibson (SGC NM-MT 8), #92 Sutton (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #110 Aaron (SGC NM-MT 8), #130 Perez (SGC NM-MT 8), #144 Morgan (SGC NM-MT 8), #145 Drysdale (SGC NM- MT+ 8.5), #150 Clemente (SGC NM-MT 8), #165 Oliva (SGC NM-MT 8), #177 Ryan RC (SGC NM-MT 8), #200 Cepeda (SGC MINT 9), #205 Marichal (SGC NM-MT 8), #220 Killebrew (SGC NM-MT 8), #230 Rose (SGC NM- MT 8), #235 Santo (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #240 Kaline (SGC NM-MT 8), #247 Bench RC (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #250 Yastrzemski (SGC NM-MT 8), #280 Mantle (SGC NM- MT 8), #290 McCovey (SGC NM-MT 8), #310 Aparicio (SGC MINT 9), #350 Wilhelm (SGC NM-MT 8), #355 Banks (SGC MINT 9), #374 Clemente AS (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #378 Gibson AS (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #385 Hunter (SGC NM-MT 8), #408 Carlton (SGC MINT 9), #410 Jenkins (SGC NM-MT 8), #450 Kaat (SGC MINT 9), #480 Manager’s Dream (SGC MINT 9), #490 Superstars (SGC NM-MT+ 8.5), #500 F. Robinson (SGC NM-MT 8), #520 Brock (SGC NM-MT 8), #530 Bird Belters (SGC MINT 9), #575 Palmer (SGC NM-MT 8).
See our online catalog for a card-by-card grade breakdown.
An outstanding, ultra-high grade 1968 Topps set, assembled by a dedicated collector with a discriminating eye, card by card over the period of many years, each card chosen for its eye appeal as well as its technical grade. Entirely graded by SGC, a tremendous, elite-level 1968 Topps complete set, once the premier example on the SGC Set Registry. 598 cards total.
MINIMUM BID: $10,000
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5. Incredible 1893 Just So Tobacco Buck Ewing (HOF) – SGC PR 1 – The Only Surviving Example!
Issued in 1893, the Just So To- bacco issue includes members of the Cleveland Spiders, and is rare enough that it is assumed that all the cards have yet to be discovered. Its existence was not established until the 1960s, and just two sub- jects were known for more than a decade. Several more subjects were discovered in the 1980s, but even today, only one or two of each ex- ample are known. They are among the rarest baseball cards in exis- tence, and are highly prized by ad- vanced collectors. Most collectors will never own one, and many will never even see one. Since the issue features only cards of Cleveland Spiders players, it was long theorized that a card of Buck Ewing was produced, but one had never been discovered until the late 1990s, when this very card was dis- covered inside the walls of an old house in Pennsylvania. The card had been nailed to a stud behind a plaster wall, where it had been used as some sort of marker during the construction of the house. During a renovation project, the homeowner discovered the card, and set it aside, having some casual knowledge of the hobby and an understanding
The card has been graded AU- THENTIC by SGC, its wear a sig- nificant part of its story. A missing piece at the top center marks where it had been pierced by a construc- tion nail more than a hundred years before its discovery. Further inden- tations can also be observed, marks from a hammer. The card surface has been darkened by staining from soot, which could likely be cleaned to improve the appearance of the card, though, like the auction house that sold it many years ago, we have elected to leave the card exactly as it was discovered. We also believe that the card will be appreciated for what it is: one of the most import- ant of all 19th Century cards, a card that for many years was only the- orized until its almost miraculous discovery. Just So Tobacco cards are white whales for virtually every prewar card collector, as the demand far outpaces the very limited supply. They almost never make them- selves available for public sale; there’s no recorded sale of two of the set’s Hall of Famers (Cy Young and John Clarkson). As one of the most popular and widely collected players of the era, the Just So To-
that the card could be valuable. Known only to the collector, its exis- tence remained a secret to the hobby until 2009, when the collector conducted some research online and discovered the extreme signif- icance and value potential of the card. What had been a holy grail card for many advanced collectors suddenly became reality, and the card realized an astonishing price of $17,625 in a 2009 auction. To- day, it remains the only known example of a Just So Buck Ewing.
bacco card of Buck Ewing has been tucked away in a private collec- tion for 17 years, its existence known to the most advanced collectors but the card eluding them nonetheless. We are honored to present it here, the only known example of Hall of Famer Buck Ewing’s Just So Tobacco card. In a hobby defined by scarcity, this Just So Tobacco Buck Ewing stands as a once-in-a-lifetime apparition – an impossi- bly rare cornerstone piece that will instantly become the crown jewel of any collection. MINIMUM BID: $10,000
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6. 1887 N690 Kalamazoo Bats Wilbert Robinson (HOF RC) – SGC EX 5
Few prewar card issues epitomize the phrase “scarce and desirable” the way the 1887 N690 Ka- lamazoo Bats cards do. Issued between 1886 and 1887, the “K-Bats” are CdV-sized photographic cards mounted on heavy cardboard. While many feature blank backs, this example boasts the more desirable advertising back, featuring redemption offers for everything from a cigar tube to a “very fine silk umbrella with gold mounted handle.” As rare as the Kalamazoo Bats cards are (only around 250 have been graded across all grading companies), Hall of Famers are even more so. Just seven of the 61 known subjects feature Hall of Fam- ers (Wilbert Robinson is pictured on this example, and a second features him along with a teammate, outfielder Fred Mann). Just 20 of the graded cards known feature Hall of Famers, with just two graded examples of this card - this one, by far, the higher of the two.
around the infield. Robinson managed the Brook- lyn Dodgers for 18 seasons, won two pennants, and retired in 1931 with almost 1400 career victories. This card shows light corner and surface wear, but a strong image, the highest of just two graded ex- amples. It is quite spectacular, boasting outstand- ing visual appeal, one of the finest examples from this issue we have handled. Indeed, SGC has grad- ed just 14 examples of ANY Kalamazoo Bats card higher than EX 5. Although several hobby resources include Rob- inson’s N172 Old Judge cards when defining his “rookie,” this is a misnomer. The massive card sets issued by Goodwin & Co. between 1886 and 1890 did not include any Philadelphia Athletics players in either 1886 or 1887, meaning his N690 Kalam- azoo Bats cards predated his Old Judge issue by at least a year. As a result, the N690 card is Robin- son’s true rookie, and with just two known exam-
ples graded, is among the rarest of all Hall of Fame rookie cards. The highest-graded of two known specimens, this is easily the single most desirable card of the Hall of Fame catcher and manager. A truly out- standing card, a rare and important Hall of Fame rookie card from one of the hobby’s most desirable 19th Century issues. MINIMUM BID: $15,000
This 1887 N690 Kalamazoo Bats card pictures future Hall of Fame manager Wilbert Robinson during his days as a catcher in Philadel- phia. The pleasing SGC EX 5 grade displays a clear and detailed image of Wilbert with a ball in hand, ready to fire it back to the pitcher or
7. 1893 Just So Tobacco Jake Virtue – SGC GOOD+ 2.5
Spectacular card from the incredibly rare Just So Tobacco issue, a set so rare that just fifteen specimens are known, all members of the 1893 Cleveland Spiders. Just two graded specimens of J.K. Virtue’s card are known, and we believe there is a chance the same card was graded twice, as we submitted this card ungrad- ed, and it sits aside an SGC 2 example as the only two in their population report. The cards are extremely rare, with many of the subjects having just one or two known examples. First baseman/outfielder Jake Virtue, in addition to having a spectacular mustache, played five years with the Spiders between 1890 and 1894, with a .274 lifetime batting average. A left-handed thrower, he is one of the few switch hitters to hit 20 triples in a season and actually played five games at shortstop as a southpaw. A stroke before the beginning of the 1895 season forced him to retire at just 29 years old. The card is an extraordinary specimen, with a clean image and strong centering. Some surface wear and a few areas of foxing are evident, with the date “1893” written lightly in pencil on the reverse in the bot- tom-right corner, likely reducing the technical grade. An impossible card from one of the rarest and most highly coveted of all 19th Century issues, a centerpiece to any advanced collection. MINIMUM BID: $5,000
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