1924-1925 Aguilitas Cigars Second Series #846 John Henry "Pop" Lloyd SGC VG 3

Sold For:

$9,600

Year:

1924

Auction:

2023 Spring

Lot #:

676

Category:

Prewar Baseball - 1910s and 1920s Cards

Graded VG 3 by SGC (submitted by REA). Rare 1924-1925 Aguilitas Segundas tobacco card of Hall of Famer John Henry “Pop” Lloyd. This is one of the key cards from this rare set and one of only several examples known to exist of Lloyd, featuring him as a member of the Havana baseball club in the Cuban Winter League. This card represents one of the very few contemporary cards issued of this legendary Hall of Famer. Lloyd played twelve winter seasons in Cuba, hitting .321 lifetime. He is widely considered the best black player of the dead-ball era. Often hitting at or near the .400 mark, his career spanned twenty-six seasons. As player-manager for the Hilldale team in 1923, the first season of the Eastern Colored League, Lloyd hit .418 and led the team to the pennant. Lloyd was often referred to as the "Black Wagner" because of his rare ability to combine speed and power. When asked about this, Honus Wagner was quoted as saying, "I am honored to have John Lloyd called the Black Wagner. It's a privilege to have been compared to him." Lloyd was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1977. This is only the third example of this extremely rare and significant card of John Henry "Pop" Lloyd that we have offered. The card is bright and crisp with light wear on the corners and a sharp portrait image in the center. Technically graded Very Good due to light rippling, otherwise the card has a far superior appearance. Extraordinary example of this extremely rare issue featuring one of the all-time great Negro League Hall of Famers. Opening Bid $2,500.