Lot # 4: Extremely Rare Ty Cobb Signed 1907 PC765 A.C. Dietsche “Fielding Pose” Rookie Postcard (PSA 8 Auto) – PSA Pop 1 & the Only Known Example Extant!

Category: Autographs

Starting Bid: $20,000.00

Bids: 24 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "20th Anniversary Auction",
which ran from 9/18/2020 4:30 PM to
10/10/2020 7:00 PM



(LOT 4)
Extremely Rare Ty Cobb Signed 1907 PC765 A.C. Dietsche "Fielding Pose" Rookie Postcard (PSA 8 Auto) – PSA Pop 1 & the Only Known Example Extant!

Presented here is a truly miraculous offering that comes along virtually "once in a lifetime", a cardboard collectible so rare and desirable that it unquestionably merits a final resting place in Cooperstown itself. This "unique" 1907 Ty Cobb A.C. Dietsche "Fielding Pose" Rookie card just happens to be signed by the immortal "Georgia Peach" (PSA NM/MT 8 Autograph), to the best of our knowledge standing tall as the only one of its kind! Interestingly enough, elite vintage collectors are now feverishly seeking pre-WW1 cards of our National Pastime's legendary stars autographed by those respective players. Since the "rookie-card" market is of utmost significance, it would make sense that scripted rookie cards would be the most momentous and sought-after autographed keepsakes. While that notion is "spot on" correct, unfortunately for hobbyists, there aren't any known autographed rookie cards for baseball's most iconic pre-WW1 players including Babe Ruth (1916 M101), Christy Mathewson (1903 W600 & E107), Honus Wagner (1902 W600), Walter Johnson (1908 Rose Postcard), Joe Jackson (E90-1) and Cy Young (1891 Ryder Cabinet – Street Clothes). Regarding the immortal Tyrus Raymond Cobb, only two of his 1907 Dietsche Rookie Postcards have been known to surface reflecting a Ty Cobb signature, with one of those being the A.C. Dietsche "Batting" version. That leaves this magnificent offering as the only known autographed Ty Cobb "Fielding" Dietsche Rookie Card extant, with PSA's illustrious "Pop" Chart listing only this sole "Fielding Pose" example!

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 appearance on a professional baseball related card was not realized 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 W600 Sporting Life Cabinet. Some of the postcard issues include the A.C. Dietsche, Wolverine News, H.M. Taylor, and Steel Tubes with all of these issues staking claim (along with the W600 Sporting Life Cabinet) as Cobb's hallowed rookie card. One of those postcards, the Dietsche issue, was distributed for 3 years between 1907 and 1909 by the A.C. Dietsche company of Detroit, Michigan, with two Ty Cobb issues released in 1907, a "fielding" and "batting pose", with the former "fielding" pose the much scarcer of the two issues. This is justified by the combined PSA and SGC population reports listing 144 UNSIGNED encapsulated copies (at the time this was written), with only 19 or 13% represent the obscure 1907 Cobb Dietsche Fielding pose.

Obviously, it is the 1907 Ty Cobb A.C. Dietsche "Fielding" Rookie version that is highly sought after by esteemed collectors. This remarkable "Fielding" pose Ty Cobb Dietsche postcard includes the 1907 issue date on the verso, and incredibly has been SIGNED "Ty Cobb" in bold black fountain pen on the front side's lower right quadrant! Reflecting strong eye pleasing aesthetics, the classic dark sepia image reveals no major blemishes with the PSA 8 script revealing an imposing presence beneath his outstretched left arm. True, there is some minor chipping along the edges as well as some substantial paper loss on the verso, but this "one of a kind" heirloom's key aspect is the ultra-rare Ty Cobb script that is virtually impossible to find on any of his inaugural 1907 cardboard keepsakes. Cobb's revered central image depicts the fiery superstar reaching out with his glove for a batted ball, and the sepia-toned illustration reflects spectacular contrast and crystal-clear clarity. Atypically, the dark hued background reveals virtually no fading whatsoever, with the aforementioned edge chipping and back damage (via scrapbook removal) rendered nearly negligible versus the imposing and momentous Ty Cobb script! A majority of the verso's left-side verbiage is still intact, originally reading: "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. Ironically, 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. That said, we cannot even begin to emphasize the significance of a "1 of 1" AUTOGRAPHED Ty Cobb Rookie card that is extremely valuable and tough to capture without his glorious signature, let alone a "1 of 1" signed example. It is no secret that vintage autographed baseball cards are realizing extraordinary price tags including the following past year sales: Babe Ruth Goudey's fetching between $125-$150K; a Lou Gehrig Exhibit Card realizing $121K; a Lou Gehrig Goudey selling for $79K and not to be outdone, a Ty Cobb T206 Green Portrait fetching a staggering $144K record price. Indeed, the floodgates have obviously opened for the signed card market, and we cannot even begin to estimate the possible value for the only known autographed 1907 Ty Cobb obscure "Fielding" Postcard that resides as one of Cobb's rarest Rookie Cards. That dubious task we will leave up to you, the sophisticated collector, now awarded what may be a final opportunity to seize one of the most celebrated and valuable pre-WW1 autographed baseball cards on the planet!

MIN BID $20,000

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