While the surname McGinty proves tough to locate in 19th century baseball records, this S.F. Hess & Co. card confirms he at least took the field to pose swiping a base! Its SGC VG-EX 4 grade reflects light corner wear and foxing often seen on cards from this tobacco era. The SGC population report contains just two graded examples and none higher, and the sheer rarity of the issue makes it unlikely any stronger example exists. Given the rarity and desirability of this set’s multi-player cards, this is a special card like few others in our hobby. The nuanced S.F. Hess & Co. N338-1 tobacco set shows 19th century California League players in sepia-toned photographic poses and many of its players are either unique or known in very small quantities. Few exceed low grade, so will be in demand by collectors seeking quality images from that era. Love of the Game is proud to offer a number of challenging singles and highest-graded examples in this auction. 53. 1888 N338-1 S.F. Hess McGinty (McGinty Steals a Base) – SGC VG-EX 4 – Rare Two-Player Card!
54. 1888 N338-1 S.F. Hess California League Pete Meegan – SGC VG-EX 4
Though pitcher/outfielder Pete Meegan had two years of major league experience in the American Association in 1884 and 1885, he played a decade in the California League, including several seasons with the San Francisco Haverlys. He was a star, according to a 1911 piece in the San Francisco Chronicle: “Billy Incell and Pete Meegan were reckoned as two of the greatest pitchers San Francisco ever turned out. Remember, those were the days when a twirler had to put four strikes over before a batter
was called out. His teammates were called upon to stopanything and everything bare-handed, and the sport wasn’t half the paying investment that it is today.” Though not reflected in SGC’s population report at all, this is the only known graded example, an attractive, clean specimen that is one of the highest-graded of all the known cards. The VG/EX 4 grade speaks to lightly rounded corners and a slight bit of age-related discoloration at the top and bottom edges. Well-centered, with a strong image, from one of the rarest of all 19th Century issues.
MINIMUM BID: $3,000
MINIMUM BID: $3,500
This nuanced S.F. Hess & Co. tobacco set shows 19th century California Leaguers in sepia-toned photographic poses, with many players either unique or known in very small quantities. It’s rare indeed to find anything above low grade, so this SGC EX 5 will be a special addition for collectors seeking quality images and technical scores from that era. It shows touched corners and very light foxing on each surface, with strong borders and centering. That background looks more like a school building than a ballpark, so could show Noonan practicing on a multipurpose field. While “Joseph Noonan” appears on a variation of this card, accounts of California League games show “James Nunan” on the San Francisco Pioneers roster during 1888 itself, making either spelling a possible fit. (Some men tweaked first or last names when playing to avoid detection, so this difference could also be intentional.) Whichever it proves to be, this outstanding card will be a great find for its winner! Love of the Game is proud to offer a number of challenging singles and highest-graded examples in this auction. 55. 1888 N338-1 S.F. Hess California League Noonan (Without Name) – SGC EX 5
MINIMUM BID: $3,500
FALL 2025 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 29, 2025 39
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