Lot # 64: 1907 Ty Cobb Dietsche Rookie Postcard – Scarce “Fielding Pose” (SGC VG 3) – “1 of 2”; Only 2 SGC Examples Graded Higher!

Category: 1900-1920

Starting Bid: $7,500.00

Bids: 17 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Newman Auction",
which ran from 6/12/2021 11:00 AM to
7/10/2021 7:00 PM




(LOT 64)
1907 Ty Cobb Dietsche Rookie Postcard – Scarce "Fielding Pose" (SGC VG 3) – "1 of 2"; Only 2 SGC Examples Graded Higher!

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 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 to the tune of a .350 batting average, claiming his inaugural batting title.

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 extremely rare W600 Sporting Life Cabinet. The postcards include the A.C. Dietsche, Wolverine News, H.M. Taylor, and Seamless Steel Tubes 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. Of the 157 total encapsulated copies (at the time this was written), only 20 or 12.7% represent the obscure 1907 Cobb Dietsche Fielding pose, with this stellar SGC VG 3 offering bested by only 2 SGC encapsulated examples!

While any of the 1907 Ty Cobb postcards reside as one of his "true" rookie cards, it is the A.C. Dietsche Fielding specimen that suffices as one of the most scant and valuable issues. Seldom surfacing for the taking, over the past several years, "low-grade" examples have traded between $17K-$20K, while "rare for the grade" VG specimens now fetch between $30K-$40K, with no end in sight for its seemingly unlimited investment potential. 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. The dark hued background reveals no obtrusive creases, revealing some typical surface "snow" the plagues virtually all of the 1907 Dietsche Cobb's. Some surface wear is evident near the two lower corners with all for corners revealing even wear consistent with the grade. Included on the verso is a brief Cobb bio and 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 $7,500
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