Masterpieces and Uncommon Commons XXVIII
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on:
7/30/2010
The extreme success of Goodwin& Company’s landmark 1886 &1887 tobacco brand issues led to other manufacturers immediately following in their footsteps. In 1888, the Chicago based August Beck & Company chose to include sepia-toned baseball cards within their packs of Yum Yum smoking and chewing tobacco product. These ultra rare 19th century artifacts included real portrait photos as well as full length action line drawings emulated from the 1887 Old Judge photos. Seldom surfacing in the hobby, Yum Yum N403’s are among the scarcest type card issues in existence, and are highly coveted by elite 19th century collectors. With that in mind, we are proud to present one of the extremely sparse subjects from this eclectic set, right handed pitcher Jim Whitney in a splendid SGC 30/2 holder. It is not often that a card graded “Good” can claim bragging rights as being the finest graded specimen, but such is the case for this remarkable offering. The only other SGC encapsulated Whitney resides in a 10/1 holder. Furthermore, PSA’s illustrious “pop” chart indicates not a single Yum Yum N403 Whitney, justifying the notion that this is the finest graded copy in existence!
Tall and slender right handed hurler Jim Whitney pitched in the National League for 10 seasons, the first 5 of those years tossing baseballs for the Boston club from 1881 thru 1885. Nicknamed “Grasshopper Jim” because he had a small head compared to his tall thin frame, Whitney won 31 games his rookie season and still managed to LOSE 33! In 1883, he managed a staggering career best with 37 wins, eventually ending his career with 191 wins and 204 losses. He pitched his last game in 1890 and like the great Rube Waddell and Christy Mathewson who followed him, succumbed to tuberculosis in 1891 at the tender age of 33. Fortunately for Whitney, his tragic death did not curtail his legacy, strongly carried on via this incredible Yum Yum Tobacco offering. An outstanding “line drawing” of the pitching star was taken from one of his three N172 Old Judge poses. Spectacular sepia-toned contrast and crystal clear registration highlight his image that partly favors the right edge. Additionally, there is a slight tilt to the frame that favors the upper right corner. All of the typography listed below his hallowed image is completely legible and unscathed, reading in capitalized letters: “WHITNEY. PITCHER. - SMOKE AND CHEW – “YUM YUM” TOBACCO – A. BECK & CO., CHICAGO, ILL.” The mildly touched corners still retain a majority of their original right angle shape, the edging is sharp, no major creasing is evident and the reverse side off-white blank back is relatively clean. Undoubtedly, the overall eye appeal of this extremely scarce type card is more consistent with a mid-grade example. Only a diminutive blue marking situated to the left of Whitney’s right knee accounts fopr the assigned grade. Yet, most would consent that this card’s sheer existence and strong aesthetics are the critical aspects of this rarely seen cardboard relic, easily outdistancing the significance of any technical assessment. Furthermore, as previously noted, even at the SGC 30/2 tier, this card still manages to claim the title as the “best of the rest”. Bottom line is this offering provides three uncontestable reasons to go the distance in the bidding process: (1) extreme rarity, (2) magnificent eye appeal and (3) the highest graded specimen, justifying why this seldom seen cardboard gem merits a place in any “World Class” 19th century collection!
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