Rarest Pre-War Rookie Cards
What are some of the rarest pre-war baseball rookie cards, specifically talking about significant stars and Hall of Famers? I’ll start things off with a few here in no particular order:
1922 William Paterson - Travis Jackson 1933 Worch Cigars - Joe Medwick 1909 Cabanas - Pete Hill 1946 Sears St Louis Cardinals - Red Schoendienst 1908 Rose Company - Walter Johnson 1921 Tip Top Bread - Lefty Grove |
tough back 1916 M101-4 (or5) Dave Bancroft, Babe Ruth
1921 W-Unc Self-Developing Urban Faber |
Al Spalding: 1872 Warren Studio CDV
Hoss Radbourne: 1886 Red Stocking Cigars Dan Brouthers: 1886 Tomlinson Studios cabinet Tim Keefe: 1886 N167 Roger Connor: 1886 N167 Cy Young: 1892 Ryder Studio cabinet Honus Wagner: 1902 W600 (or 1899 Henry Reccius) Eddie Plank: 1902 W600 Nap Lajoie: 1902 W600 Addie Joss: 1903 W600 Christy Mathewson: 1903 E107 Eddie Collins: 1907 W600 Walter Johnson: 1907 Weiser Wonder Lefty Grove: 1928 Star Player Mel Ott: 1929 Leader Novelty |
I think there's a pretty good chance Mel Otts Goblin Merrymint is a true 1926 rookie. It also has a cool story so I nominate it.
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Just So Cy Young. The Ryder cabinet is just a photograph put out by a local photographer.
Frank Selee Whitehead and Hoag pin Wares, Holmes to Homes, or Green Joyce Ruth All of the above are unique as far as I know |
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This is the only D350-2 in the combined PSA & SGC pop reports for this RC of Sam Rice. The date is incorrect on the PSA flip - the correct year is 1917.
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Beauty, Jeff!
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Thanks, Jay.
As for Cobb "rookie" cards, if these are thought of as cards, they are really rare: https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...268fa935_z.jpg https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...4be7f68b_c.jpg |
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1913 Zeenut Harry Heilmann
(One of only 2 known with the Coupon attached) |
Great card Rhett.
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The one that haunts my dreams and whispers, "you'll never find me...."
https://i.psacard.com/cardfacts/1903...7541.jpg?h=600 |
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This hangar (paper front that is linen backed with metal strips at the top and bottom with a loop at the top so it can be displayed in a store) was issued prior to the 1891 season to illustrate Cleveland's 1891 schedule. The image of Cy Young is certainly one of his earliest, if not his earliest.
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Jay:
I remember bidding on that at a National live auction maybe a dozen years ago or so now. Didn’t end up winning it. :( |
Wouldn’t that also count for George Davis as well?
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Judson--Absolutely!
Phil-I believe it was a Mastro live auction so it was more than a dozen years ago. I think we talked about the piece after the auction. |
Not sure of its rarity, but a tough card to find in good shape, the 1947 Bond Bread Musial.
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John:
I would say not easy to find in higher grade, not quite at the level of Tip Top Bread from the same year though. Definitely increased a lot in value over the past couple of years, like a lot of other things. 1946 Propagandas Montiel for Musial though. Yes, Jay, you are correct. |
A few more:
1993 Just So Tobacco - Jesse Burkett 1911 T332 Helmand Stamps - Max Carey 1907 W600 Ty Cobb 1898 Cameo Pepsin Pins - Jimmy Collins |
Super nice Cobbs, Jeff. I had both of those at different times, not the quality of your’s though. Also, enjoyed your recent YouTube video interview.
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https://photos.imageevent.com/derekg...11%20Carey.jpg Traded my 1896 Cameo Pepsin Pin to Jay about 7 years ago…would love to get that one back…btw, I think this particular pin was produced in 1896 - Boston Series, according to research I once saw on the matter. https://photos.imageevent.com/derekg...20-%201896.jpg |
Derek--Great pin---I still have it as well as the Lincoln Tree Planter cabinet with Jake Beckley.
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Not sure how rare it is, maybe less than 10? 1909 Cabanas Armando Marsans - |
A few really tough exhibits from the ‘20’s:
1926 - Earle Combs 1925 -Bill Terry 1925 - Kiki Cuyler 1926 - Tony Lazerri (‘22 Zee-nut Pre-Rookie) 1926 - Charlie Gehringer 1923-24 - Al Simmons |
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Yes, my guess is that Ryder was hired to photograph the team for the schedule hangar and after that project was completed Ryder made use of the images and issued separate cabinets of the players.
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Could that dude possibly wear a tighter jersey?! It’s like European cut 135 years before that was a thing.
That Cy Young cab is the bees knees. Kevin, do you agree the one in Goldin is his rookie though? |
God willing their pants were not that tight too
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Some pretty tough ones:
1909 Colgan's Chips Joe McCarthy 1909 Colgan's Chips Harry Hooper (Nat'l Variation) |
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Not quite a rookie, but the only other card of McCarthy as a player.
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This one of Joe. I agree with Jeff and think that these count. Only two known to my knowledge
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Just a heads-up, Hake's Auctions will be offering a fresh to the hobby example of that 1908 W601 Philadelphia (AL) w/Joe Jackson (Rookie) in our upcoming July catalogue auction.
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I stand corrected. That makes 3!
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As Glenn (darwinbulldog) mentioned, 1929 Leader Novelty Ott.
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Arguable on this one.
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Helmar leathers
Darby choclates |
A couple of more:
1927 Middy Bread Die-Cuts Chick Hafey 1930 Baguer Chocolates Al Lopez 1936 R312 Johnny Mize (not quite as tough but not common either) No arguments here, Brian, on the Earle Combs rookie, super rare! |
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