This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/6/2016
By the time Ty Cobb was introduced in the legendary 1914 Cracker Jack series, "The Georgia Peach" had already amassed a resume that was no only unprecedented, it was unimaginable! In 8 full seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Cobb had posted a career .377 batting average, winning the American League batting crown each of those 8 years, while averaging 95 runs batted in and 58 stolen bases, successfully swiping a base over 90% of the time. Even the great "Shoeless" Joe Jackson couldn't match the prowess of Cobb, finishing second to Cobb in the AL batting race three times without ever winning a batting title of his own despite a career .356 average. Considering the hit parade of icons that pack the Cracker Jack series, it's a glorious accomplishment that Cobb stands as the leader of the diamond. Of course, snagging a Cobb as your Cracker Jack prize was only half the battle; you also had to hope that the caramel covering the popcorn didn't leave permanent marks on the exposed pasteboard, a problem rectified through the availability of a mail-in offer the next year. And as luck probably had it, the unlikelihood of discovering an unadulterated Cobb card could easily have befallen upon a young tyke who damaged it, threw it away or just put it down and left it somewhere, never to be seen again. There's no telling what pattern of fortuitous events were set in motion that allowed this nearly pristine example of Ty Cobb's 1914 Cracker Jack card to survive virtually unscathed, but for the elite-level baseball enthusiast looking to add a signature piece to their world-class collection, this is truly a masterpiece worthy of the Smithsonian. The centering mildly favors the right edge, serving as a reminder that for all the improbable and near impossible traits this gem exhibits, its still part of a collection that had many obstacles toward producing high-grade specimens. The rich, red color of the backdrop supporting the perfectly registered image of Cobb is intense and utterly overwhelming, easily on par with 1915 examples that didn't have the burden of being in contact with the caramel confection. And while it's natural to be a little more discerning when considering a NM/MT label for one of most coveted cards ever produced, PSA clearly had no trepidation in tagging this beauty as one of the finest in existence. Each endpoint easily meets the specifications for the grade while the upper right and lower left are qualified for the next half-grade tier, all connected by smooth MINT edges. The reverse has perfectly positioned, bold black print on a slightly off-white surface, not as alabastrine as a well-preserved 1915 Cracker Jack card, but again, incredibly astonishing for a card that earned it's accolades the "hard way." Considered a "top 20" card by many of the hobby's most respected collectors, this rare opportunity to land a phenomenal PSA 8 example of Ty Cobb's breathtaking 1914 Cracker Jack card is within your reach!