(LOT 492)
1909 T206 Ty Cobb Red Portrait "Polar Bear Cigarettes" (PSA VG+ 3.5)
Of the highly coveted four T206 Ty Cobb's, both the "Red" and "Green" portrait poses stand as hobby icons, justifying why this superb PSA 3.5 Red Portrait "Polar Bear" Cobb merits serious attention from any advanced enthusiast. While not one of the scarcest T206 ad backs, tobacco enthusiasts surely realize it is a daunting task to find Polar Bear subjects with superb eye appeal due to their typical heavy staining. Fortunately, this superb PSA 3.5 offering just happens to reflect minimal staining, somehow eluding the unsightly tobacco discoloration that typically plagued most Polar Bear subjects. Still holder of the highest major league lifetime batting average (.366), Ty Cobb stands tall as one of the top 5 ballplayers of all-time, as well as being a 1936 charter member of baseball's illustrious Hall of Fame.

Therefore, it come as little surprise that many of the hobby's most advanced collectors seek his most prized cardboard artifacts, with only a handful possibly carry the prestige of his T206 Portrait subject. Cobb's classic headshot pose portrays outstanding facial colored hues, strong resolution, and a robust red background. Fine centering, uniform-like corner wear and an amazingly clean Polar Bear verso are additional highlights of this timeless classic that provides mid-grade aesthetics. Some of the minor blemishes include a few microscopic-like white "specs" to the left of his iconic portrait image and some negligible toning along the left border. The remainder of the card strongly supports the fine assessment for this "Red Cobb" memento that unquestionably stands as one of the hottest cards in the hobby!

MIN BID $750
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