(LOT 11)
1911 M116 Sporting Life Ty Cobb Blue Background PSA 7 NM – POP 1; Only Four PSA Examples Graded Higher!
HIGH-GRADE BLUE COBB!!!... Presented here is the highly coveted and valuable PSA 7 NM 1911 M116 Sporting Life Ty Cobb boasting the significantly scarcer blue background (as opposed to pastel). At the time this was written, PSA had only encapsulated 31 examples, with this POP 1 rarity only bested by a meager four PSA examples! The population report clearly indicates the blue M116 Cobb immense paucity level versus its pastel brethren, with the roughly 90 pastel Cobb specimens outdistancing the blue Cobbs by a 3-to-1 ratio. It is believed that the scarcer blue background M116 Sporting Life cards were issued as a second printing of the first two 12-card series with the numerous pastel versions selling out quickly due to the popularity of the players originally available to the general public. The 1911 campaign would see the immortal Georgia Peach post the first of his three .400+ batting marks, ending the year with an MLB leading .419 average (his highest mark) while leading the Junior Circuit in virtually every critical offensive category including hits (248), runs (148), doubles (47). triples (27), RBIs (127), stolen bases (83), and the critical OPS figure (1.086).

Like a majority of the M116 subjects, this world-class treasure is highlighted by the classic Carl Horner portrait photo also viewed on other legendary Cobb issues including his rare W600 Sporting Life and Carl Horner cabinets, 1908-09 Rose Co. postcard, 1909-11 T206 (green & red portraits), and 1910 E103 Williams Caramel subjects, just to mention a few. Crystal clear to say the least, the classic pose is set against a vibrant turquoise blue and tranquil green setting, accompanied by four bright white borders and a super sharp perimeter including four somewhat square corners. While some diminutive touching at the lower right corner and the image slightly favoring the right edge prevent a higher assessment, the otherwise relatively clean surfaces and popular midnight blue Sporting Life ad back are the final exclamation points justifying the PSA 7 grade. Yet, when all is said and done, stealing the show is the sparkling Cobb image that literally appears to jump off the card, bolstered by his robust rosy cheeks, impeccable registration, and breathtaking blue setting.

Extraordinary to say the least, it was issued during an era when the mighty Tyrus was embarking on what many historians believe to be the greatest career by any player who ever graced a baseball diamond. Regarding benchmark pricing, while another PSA 7 example has not publicly sold for roughly four years, one of the two existing PSA 8 specimens fetched a staggering $174,000 in February 2023, a bona fide statement as to the excessive value of a high-grade M116 Cobb sporting the more elusive blue background. One of our National Pastime's greatest all-time players, Cobb's .366 lifetime average via 4,189 safeties, 12 batting titles including an unprecedented nine consecutive league-leading marks from 1907-15, and uncanny five-tool skill set easily substantiate why he was selected as one of baseball's five 1936 HOF charter members. This one-of-a-kind PSA 7 marvel truly resides as the perfect testament to the immortal Tyrus Raymond Cobb who, synonymous with its POP 1 stature, stands alone as the best of the best!

MIN BID $12,500
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