(LOT 446)
1909 T206 UZIT Fred Merkle "Throwing" (PSA VG 3)
One of the most renowned collecting angles is assembling obscure T206 advertisement backs. With 16 different cigarette brands to choose from as well as a myriad of diverse "Series" counts and "Factory" distributions totaling to some 39 different T206 back possibilities, it is a seemingly unending quest to gather every possibly variation. One of the extremely tough cigarette backs to surface is the "UZIT" version, bested in scarcity by only the Brown Old Mill, Brown Lenox and Broadleaf 460. Even the obscure "DRUM Cigarette" backs are no longer considered "scarcer" than UZIT due to the renowned "St. Louis DRUM Find" several years ago that places their rarity at a relatively equal level (PSA lists 132 total Drum's & 134 UZIT's with both figures representing a fractional .06% of the total 216,700+ PSA encapsulated T206s).

Presented here just happens to be one of those scarce UZIT examples, a super eye pleasing PSA 2.5 Fred Merkle "Throwing" subject that stands as one of only 8 UZIT specimens! Unfortunately for Merkle, his baseball immortality is linked to the "bonehead" play in the 1908 Chicago Cubs vs. New York Giants contest that cost the Giants a critical September win against their arch rivals and ultimately result in the Giants losing the National League pennant. Merkle was on 1st base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth when Al Bridwell singled in the winning run from 3rd base. Instead of touching 2nd base to complete the game-winning hit, Merkle ran for the safety of the clubhouse, with Evers eventually finding the batted baseball and touching 2nd base for the force out.

Umpire Hank O'Day ruled Merkle out and after the league later upheld O'Day's call, the game officially ended in a tie solely due to the "Merkle Boner". The Cubs and Giants ended the season in a tie for 1st place, with the Giants ultimately losing the one-game playoff and pennant to Chicago. Fortunately for Merkle, he receives some redemption via his grand representation on this super eclectic offering. The aesthetics actually somewhat exceed the technical assessment via a crystal-clear image, bright hues and eye pleasing uniform corner wear. Most significantly, the verso's UZIT advertisement is still bold and vivid, with its sheer existence placing it as one of the few surviving T206 Merkle UZIT marvels!

MIN BID $1,250
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