33. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #149-2 Buck Ewing (HOF) - PSA GOOD 2(MK)
Despite being one of the more frequently encountered Hall of Famers in the N172 issue, Buck Ewing is also one of the era’s most popular and widely-collected players. Arguably the best player of the 19th Century, his immense popularity makes the demand for his cards consistently strong. In the late teens, a reporter asked none other than Connie Mack - who had, by that point, seen Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, Nap Lajoie, and Joe Jackson - who was the best player he’d ever seen. His answer? Buck Ewing. This example, graded GOOD 2 (MK) by PSA, displays far better than the assigned grade. The image quality does exhibit some slight fading, as common with the issue, but the technical grade refers to the reverse, which earns its qualifier due to pencil writing, and its numerical grade due to some mild paper loss, the result of the long ago removal of a strip of tape or other adhesive. Of course, the back damage does little to negatively affect the card, which is quite attractive. The plate specimen for the outstanding book The Photographic Baseball Cards of Goodwin & Company .
MINIMUM BID: $1,000
35. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #254-3 King Kelly (HOF - Bare Head, Boston On Shirt) - PSA PR 1 (MK)
34. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #177-4 Pud Galvin (HOF) - SGC FR 1.5
In 1888, James Francis “Pud” Galvin became the first player in history to win 300 games. This example of his 1887 N172 Old Judge #177-4 card shows the pitcher, renowned for his durability, the year before. Galvin stands in a photography studio, leaning on a bat with his right hand, which struck out more than 1,800 batters in his Hall of Fame career. The image of Galvin is clean and bold, but some diamond cutting, soft corners, and three small ink spots in the lower left corner of the front account for
Outstanding card of one of the most popular players of his era. Issued subsequent to Chicago’s sale of the fan-favorite to Boston (the sale that earned him the nickname “$10,000 Kelly”), the photo pictures the Hall of Famer with his new team emblazoned on his chest in place of “Chicago,” an incredibly clean and detailed image for the issue. Though the bottom border has been slightly miscue, PSA has elected to assign the card a “MK” qualifier, speaking to small pencil marking on the reverse. The PR 1 grade is
the reduced technical grade. The blank reverse is victim to some paper loss, a result of long-ago scrapbook removal. One of the most desirable cards in the entire N172 issue, boasting outstanding contrast, far in excess of what is typically seen with Old Judges.
a result of scrapbook remnants on the reverse; the same scrapbook protected this card from wear, the result being a sharp, well- contrasted image with square corners and very little of the surface soiling often found with Old Judge cards.
MINIMUM BID: $2,000
MINIMUM BID: $1,000
SPRING 2024 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES MARCH 30, 2024 27
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