This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/10/2015
Graded EX/MT 6 by PSA. Of the 56 examples of the offered card on record with PSA, a mere 7 examples have been graded at a higher assessment than the offered example. Without a question Cap Anson, baseball's first superstar, was the dominant on-field figure of nineteenth-century baseball. He was a small-town boy from Iowa who earned his fame as the playing manager of the fabled Chicago White Stockings, the National League team now known as the Cubs. A larger-than-life figure of great talents and great faults, Anson managed the White Stockings to five pennants and set all the batting records that men such as Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth later broke. Anson was the second manager (after Harry Wright) to win 1,000 games and the first player to stroke 3,000 hits (though his exact total varies from one source to another). Although he retired from active play in 1897, he is still the all-time leader in hits, runs scored, doubles, and runs batted in for the Chicago franchise.
The featured collectible was issued with the 1888 N162 Goodwin Champions release which was a multi sport issue that hailed larger than life exploits from various sporting exploits. Baseball players were absolutely the main attraction and the players offered within the release are amongst the very finest cards ever offered. A fiery yellow and orange sky acts as a perfect backdrop to the steely blue of Anson's White Stockings uniform. The mustachioed Anson shows prominently against the aforementioned background to the point that his overall flesh tones are easily apparent. The centering is astute while the corners reveal mild touches that are commensurate with the opined grade. The surface is presented void of in notching or pitting and presents as a stunning capper to the obverse of this exceptional card. The reverse offers a checklist of the sets subjects and is shown free of any obtrusions. A terrific and emotionally stirring card offered in attractive EX/MT condition.