Lot # 2: T206 Ty Cobb Red Portrait “Piedmont 350 Subjects” (PSA 8) - Only 2 Graded Higher!

Category: 1900-1920

Starting Bid: $10,000.00

Bids: 52 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Summer Spectacular 2018 Auction",
which ran from 7/27/2018 12:00 PM to
8/11/2018 7:00 PM




(LOT 2)
T206 Ty Cobb Red Portrait "Piedmont 350 Subjects" (PSA 8) - Only 2 Graded Higher!

No baseball card collection can be considered complete without a serious pre-WWI card of the immortal Ty Cobb, and no Cobb cardboard memento could possibly be more renowned than his legendary T206 Red Portrait subject reflecting the majestic Carl Horner portrait Cobb image. Of the highly coveted four T206 Ty Cobbs, both the "Red" and "Green" portrait poses stand as hobby icons. With that in mind, this "scarce for the grade" PSA 8 T206 Cobb Red Portrait Piedmont 350 Subjects gem presented here is one of only eighteen PSA NM/MT 8 examples (a microscopic 0.9% of the nearly 2,000 encapsulated copies), with a paltry two other specimens (both 8.5's) graded higher for ALL advertisement backs!

Still holder of the highest Major League lifetime batting average, Ty Cobb is arguably one of the top 5 ballplayers of all-time, and a 1936 charter member of baseball's illustrious Hall of Fame. His fiery play easily places him as the most intense competitor the diamond has ever seen, and his relentless will to be the best at anything he did ably assisted him in earning an incomprehensible 12 batting titles in 13 seasons! Therefore, it come as little surprise that many of the hobby's most advanced collectors seek his most prized artifacts, with only a handful possibly besting the desirability of this "pack-fresh" gem.

His classic headshot pose portrays outstanding facial colored hues, atypical immaculate focus and a near-flawless "fire-engine" red background. Fine centering (approximately 50/50 "top to bottom" and 60/40 "left to right"), four blinding white borders, pinpoint corners, clean surfaces and the brilliant image quality complete the breathtaking obverse side. The verso's bold midnight blue "Piedmont Cigarettes" advertisement likewise reflects vivid registration, the final superlative to a card emanating aesthetics easily consistent with the scarce PSA 8 assessment.

Listed as one of the "Top 250 Sportscards" in PSA's classic hobby publication, the pricing points for this immortal card continue to soar. Each passing sale presents a seemingly higher price tag including a PSA 8 selling for $54,000 in the winter of 2018. That said, it certainly appears that a high-grade T206 "Red Portrait" Cobb continues to be one of the best "buys" in the hobby with incredible investment potential. Consider that its T206 brethren "Green Portrait" has already sold in excess of $150,000. Additionally, lets look at another iconic issue such as the 1933 Goudey Ruth's.

For example, the #149 "Red Ruth" Goudey currently has 20 "NM/MT 8" examples listed on PSA's population report with 2 specimens graded higher (same as the Red Cobb). With two additional 8's on the pop chart (vs. the Red Portrait Cobb), a Red Goudey Ruth has sold for up to $155,000 and has consistently achieved price tags in the $100K - $140K range! Certainly, there appears to be substantial pricing growth potential for the Red Portrait Cobb versus these other high-stature cards, with its current value surely capable of "taking off" in the near future.

Economics 101 clearly encourages the notion of "buy low – sell high", and an aesthetically brilliant PSA 8 Red Cobb (such as this esteemed offering) currently stands as one of the more definitive examples of this bona-fide investment strategy. A steadfast symbol of early 20th century baseball, this museum worthy marvel effectively "turns back the clock" to an era when the game evolved as America's pastime, making even the most sophisticated enthusiast feel young again!

MIN BID $10,000
_

Views: 1683