1917 E135 Collins-McCarthy #80 Rogers Hornsby Rookie SGC EX+ 5.5 - 1 of 1 - Highest Graded!

Sold For:

$49,200

Year:

1917

Auction:

2025 Spring

Lot #:

684

Category:

Prewar Baseball Cards (1900-1941)

Graded EX+ 5.5 by SGC. This is the ONLY example graded at this level with none higher! Presented is an extremely attractive high-grade E135 Collins-McCarthy rookie card of legendary Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby in a throwing pose. This is Rogers Hornsby's most desirable card and it is very rarely offered, especially in such outstanding condition. In fact, this is only the fifth example that we have offered in the past 21 years! The image featured on this card is a unique throwing pose of Hornsby which appears only in the Collins-McCarthy set (and related issues). Issued in 1917 by the Collins-McCarthy Candy Co. of San Francisco, the 200-card black-and-white E135 set was the company's only venture into issuing cards of Major Leaguers. Unlike the somewhat similar 1916 M101-4/5 Sporting News set, these cards were never issued as complete sets to the public, and so are naturally much rarer, and were also larger than M101-4/5 cards. The E135 set was produced on a slightly thinner stock that is far more susceptible to wear, and has a very glossy surface, which is very prone to creasing. This striking example of Hornsby's rookie card is perfectly bright and clean, with a virtually flawless surface, outstanding contrast, four square corners (each with light touches of wear), and outstanding centering (slightly to the right). The reverse is also perfectly clean with a boldly printed advertisement centered to the right. This is a magnificent example of the most significant of all Rogers Hornsby cards, his rookie card, which is of all the greater note as it is a rare card from an exceptionally high quality set that dates from the late teens, a time during which very few card sets were issued.