40. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #456-1 Sam Thompson (HOF – Detroit) – SGC GOOD+ 2.5
41. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #478-1 John Ward (HOF) – PSA PR 1
19th-century star and baseball pioneer John Montgomery Ward appears on several different poses for N172 Old Judge, including this natty portrait from his years as team captain with New York. PSA graded this PR 1 due to surface issues along its lower edge and on the reverse. It retains an otherwise clean, well-contrasted image, with respectable borders and corners. Their population report shows just nine total graded, making this example of particular interest to collectors who prioritize Hall of Fame members, strong player images,
Standout image of Hall of Fame slugger “Big Sam” Thompson, who ranked second all-time in home runs at his retirement. It features a clear four digit “0485” at upper right, making it part of what our hobby calls Old Judge’s “long number” series. This detail helps distinguish a pair of near-identical N172 Thompson batting poses, as Goodwin & Co’s original card designer wrote 0486 on that second card, now catalogued as #456-2. Thompson appears on five different cards total, with three possible teams. This “Detroit”
groundbreakers in the sport, or all three!
version covers his 1885-88 tenure with the Wolverines.
Ward showed durability and versatility in his Hall of Fame career, winning 164 games as a pitcher before converting to a top-notch infielder and manager. His 2,000+ hits, 1,400+ runs, 500+ stolen bases, and multiple titles with the New York Giants burnished a resume for eventual Cooperstown induction. He switched to the legal profession and front office roles after retiring at age 34. It’s possible his work on behalf of players, including a challenge to the 1880s Reserve Clause and creation of a competing professional league in 1890 delayed support by voters. The Veterans Committe would finally induct Ward posthumously (as a player) in 1964, a move that echoes how Cooperstown induction for the modern cornerstone of baseball’s players union, Marvin Miller, happened several years after his passing.
Any card of Thompson attracts considerable interest from Hall of Fame collectors and those pursuing key 19th century stars. He dominated 1890s pitching well into his mid-30s for Philly and modern statistical analysis helps us appreciate how this consistent, everyday slugger was probably even better than those fans realized! This 1886-87 studio image shows good contrast for an Old Judge card, with Sam’s uniform, city backdrop, and suspended ball-on-a-string all clear and distinct. The SGC GD+ 2.5 technical grade reflects its varied corner rounding, right edge notch, and surface lines near upper right. Centering is well above average for N172, improving its overall appeal. A special HOF card from this epic set!
MINIMUM BID: $2,500
MINIMUM BID: $2,500
42. 1888 N162 Goodwin Champions Cap Anson (HOF) – PSA GOOD 2
N162 capitalized on a distinctive era for baseball uniforms and romantic art to create one of our hobby’s most beautiful sets. This multi-sport 1888 issue of “Champions” includes eight baseball players and provides a colorful counterpoint to Goodwin & Co.’s contemporary sepia-toned Old Judge photographs. Hobbyists revere N162 today for its stunning lithography and standout player selection, including Hall of Fame player and manager Cap Anson. This work of art shows great care from the portrait to fine uniform details and colorful skies. Each card includes a checklist on its reverse to motivate set collectors. (Sharp- eyed readers might wonder about those three “pedestrian” cards; they reflect an enthusiasm for competitive walking, a top sport of the late 19th century.) The PSA GOOD 2 reflects all the benefits of that great design, with centering pushed northwest, surface chipping along Cap’s sleeve, and modest corner rounding. Its overall presentation remains strong for the grade, with great appeal as an iconic card and 19th Century superstar.
MINIMUM BID: $2,500
FALL 2025 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 29, 2025 35
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