1887 N172 Old Judge Hank O'Day

Sold For:

$3,300

Year:

1887

Auction:

2018 Spring

Lot #:

50

Category:

Pre-1900 Baseball Cards (1830-1899)

Graded GOOD 2 by PSA (submitted by REA). 1887 N172 Old Judge of Hall of Famer Hank O'Day (#355-1 pose), with the Washington Nationals. The offered card is one of the highlights from a very substantial, totally untouched collection of nineteenth-century and 1910-era tobacco cards consigned to this auction. O'Day pitched parts of seven seasons for teams in the American Association, National League, and Players' League before embarking on a lengthy and noteworthy career as an umpire with nearly 4,000 games to his credit. He made the decisive call in the famous "Merkle's Boner" game, ruling Fred Merkle of the Giants missed second base as he scored the apparent game-winning run, which led to the Cubs winning the pennant and ultimately the 1908 World Series. This example has light wear on the corners and, as is often the case with Old Judges, the picture is a little light. The blank reverse is clean. The moderate creasing accounts for the assigned grade. A solid N172 example of Hank O’Day worthy of any N172, Hall of Fame, or nineteenth-century card collection. Reserve $300. Estimate (open).