A CURATED SELECTION OF GREAT CARDS
69. 1946-47 Propoganda Montiel #64 Stan Musial (HOF RC) - SGC PR 1
70. 1935 Goudey 4-In-1 Babe Ruth (HOF) - PSA EX 5
In recent years, the 1946-47 Propaganda Montiel “Los Reyes del Deporte” issue has finally begun to earn its due as a scarce, condition- sensitive set with some extremely important cards. Intended to be affixed to the pages of a printed album, the Cuban cards were printed on flimsy paper, almost newsprint, most containing the player image inset around a yellow or orange border. The 180-card set includes Cuban and Major League baseball stars of the era and earlier as well as boxers and wrestlers.
Spectacular midgrade example of Babe Ruth’s final Goudey card, picturing him as a member of the Boston Braves. Joined by teammates Ed Brandt, Rabbit Maranville (HOF) and Marty McManus (who did not actually play any games with the 1935 Braves), Ruth is pictured here in a close-up view of his 1933 Goudey #181 card, closely cropped to make his Yankees affiliation less obvious. The 40-year-old Ruth would play in just 28 games with the 1935 Braves, batting just .181 with 6 home runs.
Though Stan Musial had been in the majors since 1941 and by 1946 was a bona fide star (he batted .365 that season), the lack of baseball cards issued during the War years make Musial rookie cards elusive. Though his earliest mainstream cards are his 1948 Bowman and 1948-49 Leaf, Musial had several cards issued earlier, this one being the most difficult to find. During the hobby boom, the Propagandas card of Musial has become the key card in the set, with even the lowest-grade examples reaching close to five-figure sales. This example has been graded POOR 1 by SGC, but boasts eye appeal that far surpasses the grade. Light staining and discoloration, along with a few tiny spots of paper loss on the reverse, are likely the result of scrapbook removal. A few stray creases are evident upon close inspection, two in particular at the left edge. The image is centered well for the issue, however, with the staining not at all distracting. Corners are square and chipping or wear at the edges is minimal. A superb example, particularly for the grade, one of Stan Musial’s true rookie cards, and perhaps the most rare.
The card has been graded EX 5 by PSA, well-centered for the issue, with only mild chipping at the edges and corners - the condition issue most common with the 1935 Goudey set, which features red or blue borders that are extremely condition-sensitive. Four square corners and a largely clean surface are also apparent, overall a very pleasing example of the final mainstream card issued during Ruth’s playing career.
MINIMUM BID: $1,000
71. 1952 Topps #312 Jackie Robinson (HOF) - SGC GD 2
Jackie Robinson’s 1952 Topps card is becoming a true hobby touchstone as the years pass. For those keeping track, this example has the baseball stitches on the reverse pointing left. The deep red background is instantly recognizable, though this collector- grade example does exhibit some heavy toning and surface soiling. Despite the technical grade, the card is well-centered and colorful, the aforementioned discoloration the primary culprit responsible for the numerical assessment. The added flaw of a spot of paper loss on
MINIMUM BID: $1,000
the reverse helps contribute as well. Despite the flaws, this is an attractive example for the grade. The one-two punch of Mantle and Jackie in the 1952 Topps high numbers series is just one of those things that makes this such a great set. Robinson’s cards continue to climb and this may just be his most popular and attractive card.
MINIMUM BID: $1,500
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