305. 1886 J. Wood Studio N.Y. Metropolitans Cabinets Jim Donohue - Old Judge “Spotted Tie” Image! Utilityman Jim Donahue played nine professional seasons, 304. 1886 J. Wood Studio N.Y. Metropolitans Cabinets Stephen Brady - Old Judge “Spotted Tie” Image! Steve Brady was given just one pose in the N172 Old Judge issue, a “Spotted Tie” portrait catalogued as card #39-1. Brady was in his last major league season in 1886, though he continued to play professionally through 1890. His major league numbers were decent if not spectacular; in six years he accumulated a .261 lifetime average. The cabinet, currently uncatalogued, is well-worn with Brady’s name handwritten in the bottom border. The image of Brady itself is strong and clear, with exceptional detail. A highly desirable 19th Century rarity. MINIMUM BID: $1,500
306. 1886 J. Wood Studio N.Y. Metropolitans Cabinets Al Mays - Old Judge “Spotted Tie” Image!
This an outstanding image of Mays, the same image found on his Baseball Reference page. Mays pitched six seasons in the American Association with four different teams, losing a league-leading 34 games with the 1887 Mets. The cabinet, which corresponds with card #299-1 in the N172 Old Judge issue, exhibits soiling and wear consistent with its age, some edge and corner chipping, heaviest at the top left, and example boasts
additional ink and pencil notations (no autographs, sadly) on the reverse. An incredibly rare piece, rare enough that even the most advanced collectors may not encounter one.
MINIMUM BID: $1,500
307. 1886 J. Wood Studio N.Y. Metropolitans Cabinets John “Candy” Nelson - Old Judge “Spotted Tie” Image!
By 1886, John “Candy” Nelson was a grizzled veteran, at 37 years old nearing the end of a 13-year career that saw him play in the first World Series in 1884, leading the league in bases on balls in both 1884 and 1885, despite being one of the oldest players in the league. He continued to play in New York for various teams until he was 41 years old. Despite the lengthy career, he was granted just one card in the N172 Old Judge issue,
including five in the majors. His finest season was with the 1887 Metropolitans, where he batted .282 in 220 at bats. This card corresponds with his Old Judge card #128-1. This example, as with the others in the group being offered here, boasts a sharp image of the subject, despite visible wear at the edges and some light surface wrinkling along the bottom edge
a “Spotted Tie” portrait catalogued as card #341-1. Of the group of Jos. Wood Metropolitans cabinets featured in this auction, this is the cleanest, with some visible soiling around the edges of the photo and some light corner and edge wear. A tiny tear is visible at the top right edge, more noticeable on the reverse, affecting only the cardboard mount and not the photograph itself. An extraordinary piece, impossibly rare, discovered recently enough that it does not appear in the 2017 issue of the Standard Catalog , though this very example has been subsequently catalogued at TCDB.com.
of the photo. In addition to the non-autograph on the bottom border, additional non-autographed editorial markings can be observed on the reverse, which is heavily soiled. An incredibly rare piece, this cabinet of Donohue was not catalogued in either the 2017 Standard Catalog or the TCDB database for the set, indicating it is entirely possible that this is the sole known example.
MINIMUM BID: $1,500
MINIMUM BID: $1,500
SPRING 2025 PREMIER AUCTION − CLOSES APRIL 5, 2025 77
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