Sock garters have gone the way of the dodo bird, but some baseball-oriented advertising that came with one company’s product remains very much alive and well in the collectible market. Heritage Auctions is offering five Boston Garter ad cards and a display piece in its February Platinum Auction. The majority are the only graded examples known to exist.
The group includes:
- 1912 Eddie Collins SGC 2: The only graded example (Est. $20,000 and up)
- 1912 Frank Laporte SGC Authentic: The only graded example (Est. $5,000 and up)
- 1914 Johnny Evers SGC Authentic: The only graded example (Est. $20,000 and up)
- 1914 Larry Doyle SGC Authentic: One of two graded examples (Est. $6,000 and up)
- 1914 Charlie Herzog SGC 2: One of three graded examples (Est. $8,000 and up)
- 1912 Advertising Display (11×21) : Featuring Eddie Collins and Hal Chase ($20,000 and up)
Boston Garter’s 1912 cards were used as store window displays. Measuring 8 inches by 4 inches, they were also available through an offer on the back that offered sets of National or American League players for 10 cents each. Sixteen players–one for each big league team–were offered.
The 1914 cards were placed inside each box of 12 garters.
Few Boston Garter cards from any year have survived. They’re definitely unique, with an artist’s rendering of the player getting dressed in front of a widow with a baseball scene. They probably drew a few chuckles from customers and fans more than a century ago and it could be why so few were saved.
Heritage has sold several Boston Garter cards over the last 12 months including a 1912 Christy Mathewson, which went for $84,000.
The cards will be sold on the second night of the auction, with a closing date of February 23.
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