1887 N172 Old Judge Mickey Welch

Sold For:

$960

Year:

1887

Auction:

2020 Spring

Lot #:

86

Category:

Pre-1900 Baseball Cards (1830-1899)

Graded POOR 10 by SGC. Outstanding N172 Old Judge of Hall of Famer “Smiling” Mickey Welch of the New York Giants (pose #486-3). Welch was one of the most legendary Hall of Fame pitchers of the nineteenth century. He was the Major League's third 300-game winner. During his thirteen Major League seasons, he won twenty or more games nine times, including seven straight years. The card presents in overall Vg-Ex condition, with tremendous photo contrast and image quality, strong corners, excellent centering, and a flawless surface. Downgraded due to evidence of album removal on the blank reverse. Reverse flaws such as this "come with the territory" when dealing with nineteenth-century cards, and collectors place far more significance on the strength of the image (which is superb in this case) instead of the technical grade. A modestly graded yet still extremely high-quality example of "Smiling" Mickey Welch worthy of any N172, Hall of Fame, or nineteenth-century card collection. Reserve $300. Estimate (open).