Lot # 17: 1907 Ty Cobb Dietsche Rookie Postcard – Scarce “Fielding" Pose (SGC Fair 1.5)

Category: 1900-1920

Starting Bid: $3,000.00

Bids: 14 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Spring Rarities Auction 2020",
which ran from 5/6/2020 12:00 PM to
5/30/2020 7:00 PM




(LOT 17)
1907 Ty Cobb Dietsche Rookie Postcard – Scarce "Fielding" Pose (SGC Fair 1.5)

Many passionate vintage collectors painstakingly seek Ty Cobb's most significant cardboard artifacts, especially related relics issued during his first few years in the Major Leagues. Synonymous with virtually every standout ball player, the most sought-after card is typically associated with their inaugural Major League season and labeled that players "rookie card". Unfortunately, in Cobb's case, this is where it gets slightly sketchy since his first stand-alone appearance on a professional baseball related card was not until 1907, and in that calendar year, a significant number of issues were distributed with his hallowed image. Cobb broke into the Major Leagues with the Detroit Tigers in 1905, playing in a mere 41 games while hitting a paltry .240. Quickly, Cobb bounced back in 1906 to bat an impressive .316; the first of an unfathomable 23 consecutive years of exceeding the exalted .300 benchmark.

Throughout his incomparable 24 seasons, he led the American League a record 12 years in batting average including an incredible 9 consecutive years from 1907 thru 1915! After his sterling 1906 season, he stroked 212 hits in 1907, his first full season in which he batted .350. Due to his newly found star status, manufacturers began utilizing his image on various cardboard related products throughout the 1907 season, mainly postcards and the seldom surfacing and ultra-valuable and extremely rare W600 Sporting Life Cabinet. Some of the postcard issues include the A.C. Dietsche, Wolverine News, H.M. Taylor, and Novelty Cutlery with all of these issues staking a claim as Cobb's hallowed rookie card. The 1907 A.C. Dietsche issue just happened to include two different subjects of the immortal Georgia Peach, with these two separate cards portraying a "Fielding" and "Batting" image of the majestic Cobb. As vintage collectors are well aware of, the "Fielding" subject is much scarcer than the "Batting" pose, with the combined PSA and SGC population reports justifying that notion. Currently, of the 144 total encapsulated copies (at the time this was written), only 19 or 13% represent the obscure 1907 Cobb Dietsche Fielding pose, with this stellar SGC 20/1.5 offering one of those extremely scant examples!

Any of the 1907 Ty Cobb postcards reside as one of his "true" rookie cards, yet it is the A.C. Dietsche Fielding specimen that suffices as one of the most valuable issues. Seldom surfacing for the taking, over the past several years, "low-grade" examples have traded between $17K-$20K, and this SGC 1.5 museum worthy offering certainly emulates aesthetics beyond the technical assessment. Cobb's exalted central image depicts the fiery superstar reaching out, glove in hand, for a batted ball, with the sepia-toned illustration reflecting spectacular contrast and crystal-clear clarity. Atypically, the dark hued background reveals virtually no fading whatsoever, with the technical assessment primarily due to the area of paper loss situated near the lower left corner. Some diminutive edge chipping and a vertical crease near the upper right quadrant are rendered virtually irrelevant vs. the superb central image eye appeal, and the un-stamped postcard back is relatively clean.

Included on the verso is a brief Cobb bio that reads: "Tyrus R. Cobb, right fielder of the Detroit Base Ball Club, has played but a few seasons in major league ball and is recognized all over the country as one of the most sensational players the game has ever had. He is noted for his tremendous speed; his brilliant sliding ability; his batting, throwing and fielding. He is almost sure of leading the American league in batting for the season of 1907". The final stamp of approval is the bold "A.C. DIETSCHE, Detroit, Mich., 1907" copyright text along the verso's left edge, validating its irrefutable 1907 distribution year. Interestingly enough, what nobody could possibly realize at the time was that Cobb would go on to lead the league in batting not only in 1907 but, as previously mentioned, for an unfathomable 9 consecutive seasons, placing his indelible mark on our National Pastime as one of its all-time immortals!

MIN BID $3,000
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