The break of a complete set of 1914 Cracker Jack cards and one of the famously scarce T206 Ty Cobb/Cobb Tobacco back cards headline the current Love of the Game Auctions catalog.
The sale features one of the strongest overall selections of sports cards and memorabilia in the company’s history, topped by the famous and unique Cobb card, one discovered only within the last couple of years.
Authenticated and graded by PSA, it’s one of only two dozen known examples—with eight having come in the famous “paper bag” find a few years ago. Graded PSA 1, bidding has surpassed $70,000 with the auction not slated to close until Saturday, April 11.
The Cracker Jack set is almost entirely PSA-graded with each card being offered individually. The set cumulatively ranks at #5 on the PSA Set Registry, with the Shoeless Joe Jackson, graded PSA VG+ 3.5, and a Christy Mathewson graded PSA 1. Cumulatively, the set boasts a weighted GPA of 3.87.
“Over the years, we have been fortunate to have handled quite a few Cracker Jack collections,” said Auction Director Al Crisafulli. “This is, by far, the finest, and the most complete. It was assembled by a dedicated collector who built the set card-by-card, looking for the finest examples he could find. And this set is extra special – not only does it include the complete, 144-card 1914 set, but it also includes the 32 ‘new’ cards that were issued in 1915, plus the seven pose and player variations that were changed from 1914 to 1915. It is truly an incredible set, and will give every Cracker Jack collector the opportunity to chase after those hard-to-find cards they’ve been chasing for years.”
The auction also features a large selection of game-used memorabilia from the collection of long-time Baltimore area broadcaster Ted Pattersson, highlighted by a 1957-67 Raymond Berry Colts jersey, graded A10 by MEARS.
“Ted’s game-used collection is spectacular,” explained Crisafulli. He worked as a sportscaster for decades, and was an avid collector the entire time. Most of the jerseys, bats and caps in his collection were obtained directly from the players, or from the equipment managers of various ballclubs.”
Crisafulli explained that his favorite jersey in this auction was a 1964 Robin Roberts Baltimore Orioles flannel road jersey. “It’s in great shape, and was worn toward the end of Roberts’ career. I think today, Roberts’ career is overshadowed by a lot of the bigger-name pitchers of his era, but many people don’t realize he won 20 games six years in a row. He was a heck of a pitcher.”
1919 Black Sox Collection
The auction also includes a large collection of memorabilia related to the 1919 Chicago White Sox/Cincinnati Reds World Series. From programs to ticket stubs, cards and memorabilia to autographs, the collection is comprised of 85 different lots, including five different World Series ticket stubs.
The group includes a large assortment of tough-to-find autographs from figures associated with the Black Sox Scandal, including Arnold Rothstein, Frank Shellenback, Greasy Neale, Chick Gandil, Eddie Murphy, Swede Risberg, and even Mrs. Joe Jackson.
Tickets, Passes and Programs
In addition to the 1919 World Series tickets and programs, the auction includes a complete PSA-graded collection of tickets, stubs and passes to the 1956 World Series, a host of early World Series ticket stubs (including a run of five stubs to the Yankees’ first World Championship in 1923), stubs from Roger Maris’ record-tying and record-breaking home run, and a one-of-a-kind lifetime Major League pass owned by Yankees’ catcher and team captain, Thurman Munson.
Signed Rookie Cards
The selection of autographed trading cards in the auction is topped by a 1916 Famous & Barr card signed by Hall of Famer Casey Stengel but also includes a cache of signed Hall of Fame rookie cards, including Whitey Ford, Al Kaline, Hank Aaron, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Brooks Robinson, Carl Yastrzemski, Billy Williams, Pete Rose, Steve Carlton, Nolan Ryan, Rod Carew, Johnny Bench, Mike Schmidt, football Hall of Famer Jim Brown, basketball Hall of Famers Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and others.
“First Card” Collection
The “rookie card craze” has extended from baseball into other sports, but the Spring LOTG auction also includes one of the most interesting “rookie card” collections Crisifulli says he has ever seen – including less-popular sports like chess, horse racing, track and field, soccer, and auto racing, as well as politics, literature, and other facets of history. Interested in the rookie card of Geronimo? Marie Curie? William Shakespeare? Mark Twain? Winston Churchill? Charles Lindbergh? You can bid on them—and others.
LOTG usually includes a large selection of 19th and early 20th Century cards and memorabilia and the current sale is no exception with a host of rare or unique items, a grouping of tough prewar type cards, and a number of seldom-seen vintage baseball photos.
The auction remains open for registration and bidding on the LOTG website.
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