Help Authenticating an Old Judge Card
 

Now before I start, I didn't pay anything for this card, so if it turns out to not be real, then it's no big deal. I helped my dear old friend Kevin Cummings find a card he has been looking to get for awhile and he sent me this as a token of his appreciation.

Here's what I know. The card is the correct size despite the irregular cut and the back is blank.

It has the 1887 copyright on the card, BUT it's not a listed player/pose in the catalog. That could actually be a good thing, since new OJ poses are found all the time and new players have been found in the past.

Here is where it gets a bit sticky. He says the player is "Stick" Michael, a shortstop for NY. I looked at the Giants stats from 1887 and that isn't a listed player, though that didn't stop the OJ people from putting Harry Whiteacre in the set on the Athletics and list Bob Allen with Pittsburgh. It could have been a Spring Training player that didn't make the team.

There is a Gene "Stick" Michael that played shortstop much later as many of you know, and ironically it was for New York. This wouldn't be the first time a nickname was reused in baseball. Look up how many times a player with the last name Freeman got nicknamed Buck!

There were other teams in NY in 1887, including the New York Metropolitans of the American Association and the New York Gorhams of the National Colored Baseball League(that would be an exciting find!)

So I'd like some opinions on this card from others. I'm hoping it's real, but I have my doubts. Thanks

Yep, that's "Stick" Michael for sure! Your card is genuine.

Looks authentic, but with that bottom it is an 1888 card

trimmed

Yeah, but does it have an Fa or Fb front, this one really blurs the line. :)

I'm going to go with my gut and say that it's a very well done reprint. But there's the off chance that I'm wrong and it is genuine. It's just one of those things that looks too good to be true.

I am confused - how can anyone really know without seeing a scan of the back? Sharp image!

Looks like it could have been soaked, the borders are so bright.

Skin-nied.

No scan, sorry. I sent it in to be graded

Appears to be an Fa card based on an 1887 photo shoot at Gray Studio although the stadium backdrop is a bit different from Chicago/Detroit. Very interesting, this is the type of stuff that keeps collecting OJs so interesting. I love it. I'm sure the advanced collectors have been filling your inbox. Best of luck with it.

That is a nice card, but it is no Wagner!

Johnny
 

I'll take it:)

Ed, Kevin, great cards both of you. I would send them to SGC b/c I have a feeling PSA would slab both with an (MK).

BTW - you should both send me a PM as I have some simply unbelieveable cards that I can sell you on the cheap. :D