(LOT 61)
Mordecai Brown's True Rookie Card! - Incredible 1904 "Type 4" Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown W600 Sporting Life Cabinet (PSA EX 5) – The SOLE & HIGHEST GRADED Example on the COMBINED PSA & SGC "Pop" Charts!
The prestigious "turn of the century" W600 Sporting Life Cabinet Prototypes were issued from 1902 thru 1911 by the Sporting Life weekly newspaper, measuring approximately 5" x 7-1/2". These spectacular premiums were originally issued in transparent/ glassine like envelopes for three 2 cent stamps and a coupon from the illustrious Sporting Life periodical. Eventually, the redemption methodology was revised to simply requesting a particular player for 10 cents apiece or 12 for a dollar. The earliest released cabinets depicted players with Carl Horner's renowned portrait images in formal attire, with later issued subjects portrayed in their period like uniforms. As a point of reference, additional "Type 2", "3" and "4" W600 cabinets were issued between 1903 and 1911, with the inaugural Type 4 cabinets first surfacing in the early Fall of 1904. One of the super desirable Cooperstown Inductees is the legendary Chicago Cubs hurler Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown, with this miraculous PSA EX 5 W600 ROOKIE CARD standing tall as the SOLE and HIGHEST GRADED example on the combined PSA and SGC census reports!

First issued on October 1, 1904, Brown's 1904 Type 4 W600 cabinet unquestionably resides as his TRUE ROOKIE CARD, joined only by the "unique" 1904 Allegheny Card Company Brown subject for which there is only one known existing copy. Hall of Famer Mordecai "Three Finger" Brown achieved his nickname when as a young farm boy, he accidently stuck his hand in a corn shredder, severely cutting his index finger and paralyzing his pinky finger. Never did any accident have such a positive impact on anyone's future! Brown's deformed hand seemed to be the primary reason for the movement on his pitches, leading him to 239 career wins and a spectacular 2.06 lifetime E.R.A. that is the 3rd best figure lifetime behind Walsh and Joss (and surprisingly better than Johnson and Mathewson). Sparkling aesthetics "steal the show" as Brown's bust portrait Carl Horner image literally emanates a "3-D-like" aura via its outstanding contrast and clarity. No glaring surface flaws are evident, and we can only assume the technical assessment is primarily due to even corner wear consistent with the grade, and a very faint soiling spot situated near the lower left corner. A simply spectacular representation of this premier dead-ball era right-handed twirler, its utmost scarcity level and irrefutable Mordecai Brown rookie card stature places it as one of the most significant "turn of the century" cardboard collectibles on the planet!

MIN BID $2,000
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