Dads and baseball have always kind of gone together, and that bonding crossed into sports and recreation, especially in baseball. In the late 19th century, tobacco producers began inserting “paper items, specifically photographs of “Base Ball” players in their packs of cigarettes, Dad smoked and sons got the cards. The Goodwin Company issued a colossal set of “Base Ball” player cards from 1887 through 1890, the total number of cards included remains unknown. Goodwin added the cards to its Old Judge and Gypsy Queen Cigarette packs. Over 3,500 different Old Judge cards are currently known within the hobby. The set is comprised of numerous poses for each player, team variations with both major and minor league clubs represented, misspellings and other varieties of the blank backed, sepia toned cards.
Many early stars of the game are depicted in the highly desirable Old Judge set. Being over 120 years old, with few examples remaining available for collectors, these babies demand high prices in the card collecting market. Roger Connor, a Hall of Fame member since 1976, played from 1880 through 1897, primarily with the New York Giants. He won the major league batting title in 1885, hitting a solid .371. Until someone named George Ruth came along, Connor was MLB’s home run champion, blasting a then record 138 four baggers during his lengthy career.
Connor’s image appears in a currently-known eight different poses in the 1887 Old Judge set. Just Collect offers you the fielding – hands at waist “Roger Connor 1st Base New York” version. The card has earned the “Good” SGC rating from that professional grading company, and reflects tremendous eye appeal, registration and nice centering. For a specimen that is 127 years old, this one, front and back, can be seen to actually be somewhat better than its third-party physical grade. A piece of the earliest “Base Ball” history can be added to your card collection from Just Collect. Just Collect is always buying Old Judge baseball cards and other vintage baseball and sports cards from 1879 through 1979. Please see our website for more information about selling your cards to us.