38. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes Kid Nichols (HOF) - PSA GOOD 2 (MK)
40. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes Hank O’Day (HOF) - PSA VG-EX 4
Tremendous midgrade N172 of Hall of Famer Hank O’Day, the only man in history to play, umpire, and manage in the National League. O’Day was an umpire in the first World Series in 1903, along with nine more Series during his 35- year career. It was O’Day who made what is still probably the most famous “out” call in history - the one where Hall of Famer Johnny Evers produced the baseball and stepped on second base, forcing out Fred Merkle in that infamous 1908 game. O’Day was also a serviceable pitcher
Hall-of-Famer Nichols averaged 291 innings per season over his 15 year career, pitching as many as 453 in 1892 and going 362-208 for his efforts, an average of 21 wins per season. That is the very definition of a workhorse! Catalogued as pose 342-1, this is the “Ball at ready, looking at camera” image, one of five in the N172 set to picture the Hall of Famer. While no Hall of Famer in the N172 issue is particularly scarce in comparison with the rarest subjects in the set, Kid Nichols is one of the more Kid
in his younger years, compiling a 73-110 record over a 7-year career lasting from 1884 to 1890. O’Day pitched for the great 1889 Giants team that featured such luminaries as Buck Ewing, Jim O’Rourke, John Montgomery Ward, Roger Connor, Tim Keefe and Mickey Welch - one of the most famous 19th Century baseball teams. The well-centered card, #355-2 according to the Miller/Gonsowski/ Masson reference book, is very clean, with a strong, dark image. The reverse is largely clean, with some moderate toning and light soiling near the bottom, perhaps impacting the technical grade somewhat. Despite this, an extremely strong example, very pleasing to the eye.
difficult, his cards always highly prized by advanced collectors. The image has faded slightly, although this pose is known for the upper portion washing out in such fashion, possibly indicating an issue with the negative. The reverse has exhibits pencil notations, hence the PSA 2 (MK) grade. Given the front, it’s a technical grade a bit lower than the look suggests.
MINIMUM BID: $1,000
39. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes Hoss Radbourn (HOF) - PSA GOOD+ 2.5
MINIMUM BID: $750
41. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes Wilbert Robinson (HOF - Athletics, Ball Knee High) - PSA EX 5 (MK)
Clear and well-preserved “bat at ready” pose of Hall of Famer “Old Hoss” Radbourn, one of the most highly-prized Hall of Famers in the N172 issue,also known as pose 377-3. The ironman pitcher managed a “mere” 24 wins in 1887 (he holds the record, most assuredly never to be broken, of 60 wins in a season, which he did for the Providence Grays in 1884 over the course of a whopping 75 games). PSA 2.5 in grade, a well- developed image of Ol’ Hoss is on display here. The corners exhibit some light rounding, though the
Remarkably well developed N172 Old Judge of Wilbert Robinson, the Hall- of-Fame manager of the Brooklyn Robins from 1914-1931. Referred to as “Catching Ball Knee High”, this pose is catalogued as #388-4 in the Miller, Gonsowski and Masson Old Judge book. PSA has graded three examples of this pose, with none higher, although the MK qualifier (for the “Withrow 78” penciled atop the reverse) is noted here. The front image is centered to the right and toward the top a little on a card that has otherwise weathered its 135 years
overall appearance is stronger than the assigned grade. We assume the technical downgrade is due to light but visible staining on the reverse, certainly nothing that interferes with the aesthetic appeal of the card.
on this earth in nice shape.
MINIMUM BID: $2,000
SUMMER 2023 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES AUGUST 19, 2023 29 MINIMUM BID: $1,000
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator