This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/15/2014
Graded 20(1.5) FAIR by SGC. The American institution of baseball possesses a rich tapestry, immortalizing men whose success transcend the game, those who have failed at a critical point of the game, and those whose dubious actions have cast a shadow on the integrity of the game. And with all the famous and infamous men that have made this great pastime what it is today, there has never been, nor likely ever will be, a more intriguing figure than that of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson. One of the greatest players ever to step on the diamond, Jackson's .356 lifetime batting average ranks third all-time while topping the .370 mark on four different occasions. When Red Sox owner Harry Frazee made Babe Ruth available via trade, the Chicago White Sox offered Joe Jackson and $60,000 cash for Ruth's services, only to be trumped by a $125,000 offer from the New York Yankees. Had the White Sox been successful, Joe Jackson would have patrolled the outfield in Boston, Babe Ruth would have played in Chicago, and the New York Yankees might just be a footnote in baseball history. Instead, Ruth became the game's greatest legend and Jackson was banned from baseball, caught in the middle of a scandal that would rock the very foundation of American society! While Jackson's involvement in the scandal is still debated to this day, no one questions his place in baseball history as one of the all-time finest hitters. Although he entered in the major leagues in 1908, Jackson never appeared in the popular T206 series or even the 1911 T205 set despite batting .408 that year. The offered artifact, his E90-1 American Caramel card, is his true rookie appearance and one of the very few issues from the era that feature his likeness. The all-important application of red color to the ballplayer's lips and undefined artistry around the nose is quintessential when considering such an iconic piece, and this beauty does not disappoint. The white Philadelphia uniform is clean and well-detailed with a deep purple-plum backdrop surrounding Jackson that surpasses any level of expectation, the obverse of the card is intersected by several creases which do not intersect within the players facial area. The reverse is well imaged with a deep black inked advertisement for the American Caramel Company which does show some soiling giving assurance of this cards over 100 year old collectible. One cannot possibly challenge the overall magnetism of this rare treasure, a phenomenal specimen for the opined grade of SGC 20 (1.5) by SGC. A stunning and era-defining collectible, produced seven seasons prior to his relocation to Chicago and the turmoil that would rob him of his career four years hence.