A CURATED SELECTION OF GREAT CARDS
37. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #123-3 Ed Delahanty (HOF) - PSA FR 1.5 - Stunning Image!
38. 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes #153- 1 (1890) Sid Farrar - SGC EX+ 5.5 - Highest- Grade Player’s League Card?
1890 was the final year in which Old Judge baseball cards were issued, and the cards issued that year - featuring only National League and Players’ League subjects - are quite scarce, even in comparison with N172 cards issued between 1886 and 1889. For the most part, cards from 1890 can be identified by the league designation (“NL” or “PL”) written within the image, and are often marked by a more washed-out image. This example, graded EX+ 5.5 by SGC, features light-hitting first baseman Sid Farrar. Farrar spent his last major league season in the Players’ League, and was thus immortalized
According The Photographic Baseball Cards Of Goodwin & Company (1886-1890) Ed Delahanty is the fourth most scarce of the many Hall of Famers that are part of that issue. Delahanty is, of course, one of the most desirable subjects of all the 19th Century Hall of Famers; his statistical accomplishments made him one of his era’s to
on this Old Judge card. The card remains in outstanding condition, and is quite likely among the highest-graded surviving 1890 Old Judges. In contrast with many N172s from this season, the image contrast is relatively strong, the detail quite visible and clear. Surface wear is held to a minimum, with relatively sharp corners as well. A gorgeous, scarce card, with its desirability further enhanced by its outstanding condition.
greatest players. Between 1888 and 1903 Delahanty hit .400 three times, drove in 100 runs seven times, and scored 100 runs ten. His lifetime OPS+ of 152 is enough to rank him at 31 all-time fifth among 19th Century players. But it was Delahanty’s mysterious death in 1903, when he fell into Niagara Falls after being kicked off a train, that cemented his legend. his card, checklist as #123-3, is a beauty, with a clear, well-contrasted image that shows excellent detail. Though some minor foxing can be observed on the obverse, primarily along the top edge, the card is remarkably clean, the typography dark and legible, the image well-centered. The very conservative grade assessed by PSA seems to relate to the tiniest sliver of surface abrasion on the reverse, apparently caused by the removal of some adhesive, likely due to long-ago storage in an album. The album was the saving grace of this card, however, as it also served to protect the card and prevent the photographic image from fading. The result is a wonderful example with a numerical grade that is largely irrelevant, as the card carries the appearance of a much higher-grade example.
MINIMUM BID: $3,000
39. 1887 N172 Old Judge #254-7 King Kelly (HOF) - SGC VG+ 3.5
One of the more desirable subjects in the N172 issue and one of the more highly sought-after 19th Century Hall of Famers in the hobby in general, this particularly attractive card features Mike “King” Kelly. Graded VG+ 3.5 by SGC, the card boasts outstanding contrast, with a clear, dark image and a relatively clean surface. The “$10,000 Kelly” card is checklisted as card #254-7, one of ten different Kelly poses in the N172 issue. Kelly received the nickname “$10,000 Kelly” because he was sold to Chicago by Boston for the princely sum after the 1886 season. Kelly’s place in baseball history is well- commented, and a “$10,000 Kelly” card is an
MINIMUM BID: $5,000
important addition to any quality prewar card collection.
MINIMUM BID: $2,000
SPRING 2025 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES APRIL 5, 2025 31
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