(LOT 176)
1909-11 T206 Ty Cobb Portrait Red Sweet Caporal 350/25 PSA 7 NM
PACK-FRESH PORTRAIT COBB!!! The immortal Tyrus Raymond Cobb will forever be considered one of our National Pastime's greatest all-time players, with his virtually unparalleled five-tool skill sets substantiating his selection as one of baseball's five original 1936 HOF charter members. Commencing his illustrious career in 1905 with the Detroit Tigers, it only took Tyrus two years to claim his inaugural American League batting title. Entering the 1909 campaign, the legendary center fielder had already captured two consecutive batting championships, with his .324 average, 188 hits, 36 doubles, 20 triples, 108 runs batted in, and .844 OPS all pacing the Junior Circuit in 1908. Clearly, this budding Motor City star was on the heels of challenging the great Honus Wagner for baseball superiority, and the renowned American Tobacco Co. (ATC) took note of this by issuing four Ty Cobb subjects in their landmark 1909 "Monster Set".

Two of those tobacco treats just happen to boast the iconic Carl Horner portrait Cobb pose, with either a green or red background encompassing this classic illustration that boldly stands as one of the hobby's cornerstone images. Indeed, this captivating Cobb pose can literally make anyone "skip a beat", freezing time and literally turning back the clock to an era when the "Georgia Peach" was embarking on a 24-year career for the ages. Presented here just happens to be one of the superior surviving examples of this hallowed T206 marvel, a breathtaking PSA 7 Red Portrait Cobb reflecting a Sweet Caporal 350 subjects/Factory 25 ad back. Considered one of the T206 compilation's "super prints", while low to mid-grade examples are certainly abundant, finding a pack-fresh near-mint subject emanating eye-popping aesthetics is an excruciating task, justified by this Cooperstown worthy gem being joined by only six other Sweet Cap specimens at the "7" assessment, with a meager eight copies graded higher! Iconic to say the least, it conjures up vivid memories of this fiery superstar who continued his onslaught of overmatched hurlers to the tune of an unprecedented nine successive batting titles from 1907-15, and 12 titles in a 13-year span!

This miraculous feat ultimately led to Cobb's all-time high .366 lifetime batting average via 4,189 safeties, and his ultimate elite hobby standing. There are still many historians who insist he reigns supreme as baseball's finest player, and his remarkable batting achievements certainly support that notion. Issued in 1910 via its 350 Subjects designation, the exalted Carl Horner portrait image appears as if it has just been affixed to its impeccable red background, revealing vibrant facial hues and outstanding contrast. No glaring surface blemishes are evident on either side, with the relatively well-centered illustration only modestly favoring the left edge between four bright white borders. Four somewhat square corners are consistent with the grade, with subtle "touching" along the upper two corner's outermost tips most likely preventing a higher assessment.

The verso exhibits an extremely bold red Sweet Caporal Cigarettes 350 Subjects/Factory 25 advertisement that uncharacteristically portrays near-perfect positioning. This grand offering's momentous stature is clearly evident via a handful of other PSA 7 NM examples realizing $126K and $102K in 2022, with a PSA 8 fetching a lofty $252K in August 2023. One of the hobby's most prestigious issues, it truly stands alongside the T206 Wagner, T206 Plank, 1916 Ruth Rookie, and 1952 Topps Mantle with regard to boasting one of the most revered images affixed to any baseball subject. Museum worthy to say the least, this is grand opportunity to capture one of the most iconic cards on the planet, with its timeless Carl Horner "Georgia Peach" pose, sanctified PSA 7 assessment, and breathtaking eye appeal worthy of the highest hobby accolades!

MIN BID $20,000
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