(LOT 21)
Extremely Rare 1903 E107 Breisch Williams Jimmy Collins "Type 1" Rookie Card (SGC VG 3) – "1 of 1" & The Highest Graded Example on the COMBINED SGC & PSA "Pop" Charts!
The 1903 Breisch-Williams Jimmy Collins subject proudly stands tall as one of his irrefutable rookie cards, along with the W600 Cabinet also released that same year. Presented here just happens to be the finest Jimmy Collins E107 subject, a super eye pleasing SGC 40/3 "Type 1" Rookie Card specimen that is the SOLE and HIGHEST GRADED example on the combined SGC and PSA "pop" charts! Its extreme rarity cannot be overstated for it currently resides as one of only eight encapsulated copies for ALL grading services.

Virtually all of Collins' 13 Major League seasons were spent with a Boston club, first when he joined the Braves in 1895 and then moving on to the Pilgrims in 1901 where he claimed baseball's inaugural 1903 World Series title. A superb defensive 3rd baseman and formidable hitter, Collins batted over .300 on five different occasions, and his 15 round-trippers led the National League in 1898. Further enhancing his legacy was the fact that he also managed the Boston club the first six American League seasons, leading them to the aforementioned first Fall Classic championship in 1903.

Ironically, it was that legendary 1903 season when two distinguished companies affixed his iconic Carl Horner portrait image to their turn of the century cardboard issues; the Sporting Life Co.'s W600 Type 2 Cabinets and the Breisch-Williams Inc., Co.'s hallowed E107 "traditional" sized candy cards. With regard to this pinnacle offering, Collins stoic portrait image depicts near-perfect contrast and brilliant resolution, with the well centered illustration only mildly favoring the left edge.

Clean white borders, four corners depicting only modest wear, and no glaring creases complete a superb obverse side. The technical assessment is predominately due to the aforementioned corners and a moderate surface abrasion (near the "O"), as well as some toning/soiling on the verso that portrays the classic E107 "One of a hundred and fifty prominent Baseball players" typography. A "true" inaugural cardboard keepsake of this ultra-popular "Bo-Sox" Cooperstown inductee, its breathtaking aesthetics and "1 of 1" highest graded rookie card stature place it as the arguable finest Jimmy Collins baseball card on the planet, and a world-class artifact worthy of the highest hobby accolades!

MIN BID $2,500

_