You may know your baseball history but by the time you page through the new Love of the Game auction catalog, you’ll know even more.
From the greats of 19th century baseball to Negro League stars to women of the game, the auction cuts a wide swath through baseball’s past, with rare cards and memorabilia.
Set to run through next Saturday, August 19, the sale features a large selection of 19th century cards, including a large run of 1887 N172 Old Judge Cigarettes Hall of Famers.
One highlight of the auction is a card most collectors have probably never seen: a higher-grade 1923-24 Tomas Gutierrez card of Hall of Famer Oscar Charleston. This extremely rare Cuban issue is one of two “rookie” cards of the great outfielder, virtually never seen at auction.
Rated VG/EX 4 by SGC, it is the second-highest graded example in the hobby.
The auction also has another white whale: a 1955 Topps Hocus Focus Lou Gehrig. Graded VG-EX 4 by PSA, the card is the only graded example, and one of just two known to exist. The small Hocus Focus cards were issued between the inner and outer wrappers of a piece of bubblegum, and are the rarest regular issue cards ever released to the public by Topps.
Another rarity is a press ticket from the September 24, 1919 game between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees at the Polo Grounds. In that game, Babe Ruth broke the single-season home run record by hitting his 28th round-tripper, the first of four times Ruth would set a new home run record. After the game, the Boston Globe said Ruth had set “a world’s home run record beyond all question, and one which may never be equaled.” Of course, Ruth equaled his record in July of the following year, en route to what was then an unimaginable 54 home runs. The ticket has been graded VG 3 by PSA.
Collectors who’ve been trying to land a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle have their chance, with LOTG offering an SGC 5.5 example of the hobby’s most popular post-War era card.
19th CENTURY HIGHLIGHTS
The auction has 22 different Hall of Famers from the N172 Old Judge set, the most popular and widely-collected of all 19th century baseball card issues.
Also featured are a number of scarce and valuable cabinet photos that served as proofs for the Old Judge set.
Other 19th century card sets represented in the auction include 1891 Conly Studio Cabinets, 1888 N162 Goodwin Champions, 1888 N321 S.F. Hess California League, 1888 H.D. Smith, 1887 N690 Kalamazoo Bats, 1887 N370 Lone Jack Cigarettes, 1895 N300 Mayo’s Cut Plug, 1880s Virginia Brights, and 1888 N403 Yum Yum Tobacco.
It’s rare when one or two pins from the 1896-97 Whitehead & Hoag set but LOTG is offering 23 of them from the set by the novelty company that created them more than 125 years ago.
WOMEN IN BASEBALL
The auction also features a museum-quality collection of vintage items related to women in baseball. Carefully assembled over decades by a single consignor, the 97-piece collection includes cabinets, postcards, and photos that showcase both the theatrical, burlesque side and the true early athleticism of female players, as they fought the idea of baseball being a gendered sport.
“We are incredibly fortunate to present this world-class collection,” said LOTGs Al Crisafulli. “It features many players who are recognized pioneers in women’s sports, as well as lesser-known amateur players and teams. Regardless of their prominence, each of these women helped carry the torch that established the game as America’s pastime – not just for men, but for everyone.”
VINTAGE CARD SETS
The auction features a large assortment of complete and near-complete sets, including a beautiful, collector-grade 1952 Topps near set. The most important of all Topps’ vintage issues, the 1952 set is missing just the cards of Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Jackie Robinson – each of which are featured elsewhere in the auction.
Other complete or near-complete baseball sets include 1927 E126 American Caramel, 1934-36 Batter-Up, 1936 R344 Rabbit Maranville “How To,” 1941 Double Play, 1946 Propagandas Montiel, 1948 Bowman, 1951 Topps Red and Blue Backs, 1953 Topps, 1954 Topps, 1955 Topps, 1957 Topps, 1958 Hires Root Beer Test, 1958 Topps, 1959 Topps, 1961 Topps, 1962 Topps, 1963 Fleer, 1965 Topps, 1966 Topps, 1967 Topps, 1969 Topps, 1970 Topps, 1971 Topps, 1972 Topps, 1973 Topps, and 1977 Burger Chef Triple Play.
Non-baseball sets include 1910 T9 Turkey Red Boxing, 1910 T218 Champions Boxing, 1932 Sanella Margerine, 1938 Churchman Boxing, 1951 Bowman Football, 1951 Topps Ringside Boxing, 1957 Topps Football, 1960 Mayrose Franks Football, 1961 Essex Meats Basketball, 1967 Philadelphia Football, 1972 Icee Bear Basketball, 1985-2002 Brown’s Boxing, plus complete Pro Football and Basketball Hall of Fame Metallic sets.
Bidding is open now on the company’s website:
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