14. c.1870 CDV Chicago White Stockings w/Levi Meyerle - SGC AUTHENTIC
Extraordinary advertising trade card featuring a studio photograph of the Chicago White Stockings of 1870, one of the most widely-recognized teams of the era. Assembled by Chicago businessmen in response to the dominant Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869, the first player they signed was manager and infielder Jimmy Wood, the first professional baseball player from Canada. Wood
the photo clean and unblemished with outstanding detail. Pencil notations within the left and right borders identify the season. The reverse contains advertising messages presented in a combination of letters, numbers and images (called a “rebus”), with a secondary advertising message labeled over the original printing, featuring an advertising message for
is pictured dead center in the photo, surrounded by his teammates, utilityman Kearl, shortstop Ed Duffy, outfielder Fred Tracy, utilityman Charlie Hodes, right fielder Clipper Flynn, center fielder Eddie Cuthbert, pitcher Ed Pinkham, first baseman Michael McAtee, and catcher Marshall King. Perhaps most notable, however, is the presence of third baseman, ”Long Levi” Meyerle. Meyerle, who received his nickname due to his 6’1” frame, was one of the first Jewish players in professional baseball and holds the record for the highest batting average in any major league, with a .492 with the 1871 Philadelphia Athletics (Meyerle’s fielding average that season was just .154 higher than his batting average, at .646). He won the batting title in 1874 as well, but his promising career was cut short by an ankle injury. The 3.875” x 2.375” card has been trimmed on all four borders (a common practice for the era), but remains extremely attractive,
E. Lovejoy’s Chicago stereoscope company. Regardless of the trim, pencil notations or added label on the reverse, the card presents in EX/MT condition. After the 1870 season the team would become one of the charter members of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, the game’s first professional league, with many of its members continuing on with the team. An extraordinary example featuring an important team, issued just one year after the Peck & Snyder Cincinnati Reds card often considered by collectors to be the earliest of all baseball cards. An extraordinary card, a recent discovery that is likely the finest known example, featuring one of the game’s early Jewish stars, the first Canadian professional ballplayer, and an exceptional early team.
MINIMUM BID: $5,000
Though Hall of Famer Buck Ewing is among the more frequently-found Hall of Famers in the N172 Old Judge issue, this particular pose, catalogued as #149-4, is seldom seen. Indeed, it is the only example to have been graded by PSA. The card is stunning, with sharp corners and a well-centered image. Contrast is exceptional, and the typography uncharacteristically dark and legible for the issue. The blemish visible on Ewing’s leg is not a flaw in the card itself and appears to be part of the photographic negative. This is a remarkable card, one of the finest N172 Ewings we have handled, boasting extremely strong image quality and a clean, unblemished surface. The only example of this card graded by PSA and one for which we can find no recorded sales due to the scarcity of the pose. A highly desirable card, surely to be prized by advanced collectors. 15. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #149-4 Buck Ewing (HOF) - PSA EX-MT 6 - Only PSA-Graded Example! MINIMUM BID: $2,500
17
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs