This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 7/10/2015
At 5'4" tall and 140 pounds, it's not hard to imagine how Hall of Famer Willie Keeler got the nickname "Wee Willie." While diminutive in stature, Keeler's "keep your eye clear and hit 'em where they ain't" philosophy made him a giant in the baseball world. Using the lightest bat in the league and choking halfway up the barrel, Keeler sprayed over 200 hits in eight consecutive seasons, winning consecutive batting titles in 1897 (.424) and 1898 (.385). A career .341 hitter, Keeler's most productive years were his five seasons with the Baltimore Orioles. From 1894-1898, Keeler batted an absurd .388 while averaging 14 triples, 74 runs batted in, 150 runs scored and 48 stolen bases per season, helping lead the Orioles to three pennants and two World Championships. As one of baseball's early superstars who brought a unique skill set to the game, it's only fitting that Keeler would make an appearance in the mystical E107 Breisch Williams collection. Considered by many hobby experts to be the template for the legendary T206 series and many other candy and tobacco cards that would follow, it's almost impossible to find a Breisch Williams card graded higher than GOOD, if you're fortunate enough to find one at all! Well, here's an incredible opportunity for the advanced collector looking to add a museum-quality piece to their collection. Evenly rounded corners surround a stunning black and white image of three-piece-suited Keeler, extremely well positioned on the canvas with just a minor lean toward the left side. Some light spotting typical for the series is present on the front but does little to detract from the sheer majesty of central image while the blank-backed reverse is surprisingly fresh. A light wrinkle, or more precisely a break in the black print which is not visible on the reverse, is present to the right of Keeler's head and on his chin, which is reflected in the SGC assessment. But make no mistake; the overall appeal of this rare beauty is far better than expectations for the grade!