1887 Detroit Wolverines vs. St. Louis Browns World Championship Series Scorecard

Sold For:

$17,400

Year:

1887

Auction:

2025 Spring

Lot #:

2686

Category:

Pre-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

Extremely rare fold-over scorecard from the 1887 World Series between the American Association Champion St. Louis Browns and the National League Champion Detroit Wolverines. Only a handful of examples known to exist, this is one of the rarest and most significant scorecards of the 1880s, and also one of the premier display pieces of the nineteenth century. The scorecard features sepia-toned woodcut portraits of the Browns on the front cover and the Wolverines on the back cover. Among the many notables pictured are Comiskey and O'Neill for St. Louis and Brouthers, Hanlon, Thompson, and Ganzel for Detroit. The interior preprinted scorecard has not been scored. The 1887 World Series was the longest on record and featured a best-of-fifteen series played in ten different cities. Detroit actually clinched the Series 8-3 after game eleven; however, the teams played out the remaining four games and the Wolverines are officially credited today with a ten games to five World Series victory. Extremely bright and clean, both front and back. The scorecard (7 x 7 inches, unfolded) displays a couple small edge tears, moderate creasing, and a few light stains on the back cover. None of those condition flaws, however, detracts from the extraordinary visual appeal. While technically in Fair to Good condition, the scorecard has tremendous eye-appeal. This is only the second example we have offered in the past 21 years.