1888 Goodwin Champs (N162) - Or is it an 1889 issue ?
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>One of my all-time favorite sports card issues is the Old Judge<br /> & Gypsy Queen Goodwin Champions set of 50 cards. The artistry<br />depicted in these beautiful little Tobacco cards has not been<br />equalled since. This set was produced during the hayday of the<br />lithographic color printing era in the late 19th Century.<br /><br />It is cataloged as an 1888 set; however, some info depicted on<br />certain cards make me wonder if it was, perhaps issued in 1889.<br /><br /> 1st.....The Fred Dunlap BB card identifies him as the Captain<br /> of the Pittsburgh (Alleghenys) of the Nat. Lge. Well, he<br /> was not this team's manager until 1889.<br /><br /> 2nd.....The Football card of Henry Beecher identifies him as<br /> the Capt. of the Yale team. He graduated in 1888; however,<br /> was it in the summer or the fall ?<br /><br /> 3rd.....Goodwin also produced a very colorful Album (cat A36)<br /> depicting this set's 50 cards. The one I have contains a<br /> neatly handwritten presentation on the cover dated: 1889.<br /> Sure this is just an anectdotal example; however, it cer-<br /> tainly aroused my curiosity regarding when these Tobacco<br /> cards were really marketed ? I welcome any debate. <br /> <br />

1888 Goodwin Champs (N162) - Or is it an 1889 issue ?
 

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>gee, one of the few sets I have (baseball only), and I didn't even know what year it came out. Could Dunlap have been elected Captain in the spring?<img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/Ni62Dun.JPG">

1888 Goodwin Champs (N162) - Or is it an 1889 issue ?
 

Posted By: <b>Hal Lewis</b><p>Ted:<br /><br />We proved a while back that the N28 set was from 1888 (NOT 1887) because it shows Clarkson with Boston... and he did not get traded to them until early spring of 1888.<br /><br />SO... since we know that the catalogs had that one wrong forever...<br /><br />you are probably correct and they are wrong about this set as well!<br /><br />Thanks for your discovery!

1888 Goodwin Champs (N162) - Or is it an 1889 issue ?
 

Posted By: <b>Ted Zanidakis</b><p>Hal,<br /> Thanks for your input on the Allen & Ginter (N28) set.<br /> It then follows that the N29 set was really issued in 1889.<br /> Therefore, my contention that the N162 set was really issued<br /> in 1889 sounds very possible.<br /><br /> Between us, Hal, we have corrected the marketing dates on at<br /> least two classic sports card sets in just this one week. <br />