Posted By:
bruce DorskindBobby
Although the idea of a 1912 Boston Garter Joe Jackson would represent
one of the mostexciting hobby discoveries in recent memory...
it does not seem possible, or even plausible.
The 1912 Garters have a 12 player check list. Eachl of those palyers have
been seen either on individual cards, the one known uncust sheet;
or the two card advertising piece...six different samples of which
were uncovered by a legandary, albeit low key board member,
on a business trip to Atlanta in 1992.
In 1975, one of the Hobby's 10 greatest all time collectors, Buck
Barker of St. Louis Missouri authored a Trader Speaks cover
story on Boston Garters. In our conversations with Buck and Barry
Halper (arguably the greatest collectors) of all time) on the Garters
both gentlemen spoke at length about the rarity of the Garters,
and how few pieces they had seen. There was no hint of any
example of a player who was not checklisted.
The Boston Public Library is also a great source of historical baseball
information. In our visits there (back in the early 1980's), the
data on the George Frost Company (makers of Boston Garters)
which included a US patent filing... did not indicate any evidence
of a player card other than those check- listed.
That said, here's hoping that the "rumor" is true and all of us
can enjoy another story about the legandary Mr. Jackson.
Best,
Bruce Dorskind
America's Toughest Want List