Love of the Game Auctions Spring, 2024 Premier Auction

A CURATED SELECTION OF GREAT CARDS

36. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #254-6 King Kelly (HOF) - PSA PR 1(MK)

38. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #301-2 Tommy McCarthy (HOF RC) - PSA VG 3

Compiling a relatively modest batting average of .292 with a .364 On Base Percentage over his 13- year career, Tommy McCarthy was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946, 24 years after his passing. An all- around player with a reputation for a great glove, a terror on the base paths and an out-of-the- blue 13 home run season in 1894, McCarthy is pictured here with the Philadelphia Quakers in what is his first card. Recently graded VG 3 by PSA, the card boasts strong image contrast, cut with a slight tilt but demonstrating very

One of the most coveted players in the N172 issue, Hall of Famer King Kelly is found here in one of 11 known poses in which he appears in the set. Though the card does exhibit some light soiling and image fade, the technical grade assigned by PSA speaks primarily to the card reverse, which exhibits pronounced water staining

and writing. Conversely, the front presents far more strongly than the assigned grade, the aforementioned soiling and some light chipping at the top edge the most visible flaws. A very desirable subject from one of the most important prewar baseball issues.

little wear. A small mark in the upper border resembles - but is certainly not - a pinhole, as one can clearly see no such blemish on the card reverse. This example served as the plate specimen for this pose in the definitive Old Judge book The Photographic Baseball Cards of Goodwin & Company (Miller, Masson & Gonsowski). A strong image for the grade, an exceptional Old Judge rookie card of a Hall of Famer.

MINIMUM BID: $1,000

37. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #301-4 Tommy McCarthy (HOF) - PSA VG 3(MK)

MINIMUM BID: $750

Outstanding 1889 card of Hall of Fame outfielder Tommy McCarthy, who joined the St. Louis Browns before the 1888 season. Graded VG 3 (MK) by PSA, the image sharpness and depth of contrast suggest a higher grade, though corner wear likely keeps the card from a higher holder. The MK qualifier assessed by PSA speaks to both pencil writing on the reverse from a long-ago collector clearly attempting to catalog the card, and what appears to be a small mark on the surface at the center of the top border of the card, just inside

39. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #301-4 Tommy McCarthy (HOF) - SGC POOR 1

Despite the lower technical grade, a strong example of a less frequently- seen pose of this Hall of Famer, owner of a .292 lifetime batting average in a 13-year career. The grade is accurate, with pinholes at the top and bottom of the card automatically disqualifying it from any grade higher than POOR 1, and some additional surface and edge wear at the top cementing the grade, however, the photo of McCarthy is wonderfully detailed, with bold contrast and a dark, clean background offsetting the player image. MINIMUM BID: $500

the image area but not conflicting with the photo of McCarthy himself. Still, an extremely attractive example with a strong quality image, quite desirable among advanced collectors.

MINIMUM BID: $1,000

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