The Big Four – A Small Collecting Feat Completed
 

Presenting “The Big Four”, the Buffalo Bison infield that would join the Detroit Wolverines to begin the 1886 season. Dan Brouthers (1st B), Hardy Richardson (2nd B), Jack Rowe (SS), and Deacon White (3rd B) would join an already improving Detroit team thanks to recently acquired talents of Charlie Getzien (1884), Sam Thompson (1885), and Lady Baldwin (1885) together with veterans Ned Hanlon and Charlie Bennett. Despite a strong .707 winning percentage in 1886 they would finish League play in 2nd place but would follow with a World Championship in 1887. Injury, mismanagement, and a League policy change on visiting team’s share of gate receipts led to the demise of the Wolverines after the close of 1888 season. As a 19th century Detroit collector, I’m glad Goodwin introduced these cabinets in 1888 before Detroit disbanded.


Regarding Old Judge cabinets, they are not plentiful. Issued over two years, I believe most of them date to 1889 which hasn’t helped me (the Detroits being 1888 only issue). In 1888 the cabinets required between 25 and 35 certificates for redemption (dropped to 20 in 1889). With one certificate per pack of 10 cigarettes, at least 1,000 cigarettes were purchased for The Big Four seen here. Dan Brouthers is the easiest Detroit cabinet to obtain. The most difficult to obtain from this quartet would be Rowe, many thanks to Dan Gantt and REA for making this card available.

Feel free to post anything relating to The Big Four (or any Big Four that preceded or followed). On a side note, Deacon White was part of an earlier Big Four of Ross Barnes, Cal McVey, and Al Spalding (1875 move from Boston to Chicago).

Very Nice Joe

Those are some of the most attractive Old Judge card I have seen - to think they are almost 130-years-old and are in that shape is amazing.

Congratulations and thanks for sharing.


-Raymond

Congrats Joe, always nice to check off a collecting goal.

In a word, "WOW!"

Way to go Joe, you are on top of the Detroit Old Judge players.

Joe M.

Joe, what a quartet, Congrats!

Incredible Joe!

Grand Slams
 

Thanks for the responses, I'm having some fun with the scans and some of my other cards. I have a couple grand slams with this group (four variations of same pose)

For the Detroit OJ collector, the only way to hit a grand slam on poses would be to obtain the only two possibilities from 1887, N172 & N175, together with the only two possibilities from 1888, N172 & N173. While the 1887 N172 is easy (relatively speaking), the other three can be very difficult.

Bravo!

I grew up a Dodger fan in the 70's and 80's. My big four is slightly easier to obtain.

Re: The Big Four – A Small Collecting Feat Completed
 

Great stuff, Joe!

Great collection Joe. Enjoy the Big Four!

Good job my friend. And thanks for sharing the information too...

Joe--Congratulations on an impressive acquisition. I like your information about the importance of the group, and I like your position presentation.

Bravi!

Cheers, Mike

I don't think it's a small collecting feat at all.

A BIG Congrats on your completion of The BIG Four.

Donato

Joe, that's fantastic. Congrats on some great pickups.

-Al

Awesome Joe! Congrats on the Big Four and the Grand Slam! Now where are the Detroit OFers and battery? Or do they not exist?

Thanks everyone.

Goodwin & Co. issued cabinets for 14 different Detroit players and Manager in 1888. I also like to include Bennett, he wasn't issued a cabinet until 1889 w/ Boston, but the photo is dated to his time with Detroit. With Bennett I have 9 of 15 possibilities but one of them is Manager Watkins, so I need one more position player to field a nine.

The Met (Burdick collection) has the six cabinets I need, so between the two of us we are complete :)

Nice! I love your collecting focus and dedication.

As we all know the hunt is a lot of the fun. Only 6 more needed? That should be a piece of cake? You probably need just about a half more of a lifetime. :)