Rare 1871 Chicago White Stockings (vs. New York Mutuals) National Association Scorecard - First Season of Professional Baseball!

Sold For:

$14,400

Year:

1871

Auction:

2019 Summer

Lot #:

1898

Category:

Pre-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Rare National Association inaugural-season scorecard issued for a game between the Chicago White Stockings and New York Mutuals held at the Union Grounds in Chicago on July 28, 1871. The preprinted lineups include Jimmy Wood, Fred Treacy, Ed Pinkham, Ed Duffy, Marshall King, and George Zettlein for Chicago, and Dickey Pearce, Bob Ferguson, Joe Start, Dave Eggler, Rynie Wolters, Charlie Smith, and John Hatfield for New York. The scorecard, which is a single unfolded card, printed on both sides, has not been scored. Despite not having been scored, the offered scorecard can be conclusively dated to the July 28th game between the clubs because the league standings "to July 23, 1871" are printed along the base of each side. The next game for the White Stockings following that date was July 28th against the Mutuals. Research indicates that the White Stockings won the game on that date by a score of 17-6. The National Association, which was founded in 1871, was baseball's first professional league. Any items relating to that inaugural campaign are rare and scorecards are no exception. This is just the second example we have ever offered and we have seen only a few others. The White Stockings and Mutuals remained in the National Association during the league's short five-year existence and both were charter members of the National League in 1876. The Mutuals later folded, but the White Stockings franchise survives to this day as the Chicago Cubs, thereby making this one of the oldest known scorecards issued by the club. The scorecard (4.25 x 3.5 inches) displays a few minor surface blemishes on each side and is in Excellent condition overall. Reserve $500. Estimate (open).