59. 1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb (HOF – Bat On Shoulder) – SGC FR 1.5
Well-centered “Bat On Shoulder” pose for Ty Cobb, with strong color on each side. The popular young star and future Cooperstown inductee led Detroit to three straight World Series appearances, 1907-09, inspiring T206 creators to give Cobb himself four different cards, including this serious-minded, “hard stare” pose that intimidated so many pitchers of his day. Note a subtle detail of this Cobb pose, the side buckle on that trouser belt. Experienced and aggressive runners wore their belt off-center to avoid gouging themselves when sliding. This buckle tells you how Ty expected to hit the dirt, with the left side down and the right spikes high, as he notoriously did to command the basepaths. The card offers terrific registration and color, with nice centering and an artful transition from ballfield to sunset that distinguishes so many T206 cards. Its Piedmont back shows fine details and no print breaks. The SGC FAIR 1.5 grade follows from its consistent corner rounding and flaking, with short diagonal creases at two points. Light speckles dot its lower and left edges. The main image shines through as an excellent example for this grade. Cobb continues to bring new generations of hobbyists into prewar sets, thanks to his intense love of the game, evocative cards, and memorable character. This will be a pleasing addition however you pursue the T206 Monster, whether you are a completionist, a Hall of Fame collector, or a fan of Cobb himself!
MINIMUM BID: $750
60. 1911 E94 Close Candy Tris Speaker (HOF) – PSA GOOD 2
61. 1911 M116 Sporting Life Christy Mathewson (HOF – Pastel Background) – PSA EX-MT 6 Vibrant and artful portrait
The E94 Close Candy set helped its collectors along by including a full 30-player checklist on card backs, making it easy for any young fan to track what was missing. Tris Speaker is one of its numerous future Hall of Famers. Recent research indicates this set printer started with their stack of 30 stars and then pitched them to multiple candy makers, offering personalized branding. George Close Candy of Cambridge, MA, appears to be the company that
featuring one of our hobby’s most widely collected players, as “Big Six” raised the bar for fans of pitching and player character in ways that still echo today. This M116 Sporting Life card rates among Mathewson’s top poses in composition and execution, striking an indelible image for fans and aficionados alike. This “pastel background” variation used lighter shades of blue and yellow to offset his striking good looks, with another version offering solid blue.
took greatest advantage of that offer, which then led the ACC to associate the set with the Close company, despite other brands being known. This example has a grade of GOOD 2 assessed by PSA, some chipping at the right edge, and a light wrinkle rendering the grade accurate, despite exceptional visual appeal. MINIMUM BID: $750
The PSA EX-MT 6 packs a visual punch, with a well-registered central image, even borders, and a lovely transition from background to jersey. Technical issues appear limited to touched corners and light haze on its reverse, with back centering angled a bit southeast. This detracts little from that Cooperstown-quality main image and will be a highlight for any collector who nets this legend! MINIMUM BID: $1,500
FALL 2025 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES NOVEMBER 29, 2025 41
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