(LOT 330)
1914 Cracker Jack #30 Ty Cobb PSA 5 EX
GEORGIA PEACH TREAT!!! Iconic to say the least, only a handful of vintage cards could arouse collectors at the level of an immortal Ty Cobb 1914 Cracker Jack #30 specimen, presented here in a superb PSA 5 EX holder. Only bested by 13% of the 85 PSA encapsulated examples (at the time this was written), its ultra-condition sensitivity stems from the neighboring caramel candy corn included in the historic 1914 Cracker Jack boxes. Ty Cobb's iconic hands-apart batting image affixed to his hallowed Cracker Jack baseball card places this issue at an unparalleled standing, forever reigning supreme as one of the hobby's pinnacle cardboard heirlooms. In 1914, baseball card collecting was taken to a new level via the thin stock cardboard subjects inserted into boxes of the ultra-popular caramel corn candy treats. While a myriad of distinguished Hall of Famers and stars were included on the extensive laundry list of baseball's early 20th century heroes, save Mathewson and Joe Jackson, none could possibly compare to the immortal reverence of the Tyrus Raymond Cobb #30 subject.

Indeed, Cobb's 1914 Cracker Jack issue resides as one of the most coveted cards in our illustrious hobby via his seemingly timeless batting image affixed to this sanctified relic. Meticulous enthusiasts relentlessly pursue the finest 1914 Cracker Jack examples of this world-class collectible, and due to the significant caramel corn staining on many 1914 specimens, eye-pleasing mid-grade copies are few and far between. Fortunately, this PSA 5 masterpiece has managed to side-step extremely obtrusive caramel stains as well as other glaring surface flaws, with its scattered light staining primarily reserved for the borders and verso. For full disclosure, a few faint stains are affixed to Cobb's hands-apart batting pose, and you can literally feel his intensity as he prepares to stroke another one of his 4,189 safeties. Fine vertical centering is somewhat offset by the illustration's partiality towards the left edge, and even corner wear prevents a higher assessment. The final superlative is the crystal-clear clarity and fine contrast, with the fire engine red background miraculously eluding any unsightly blemishes over the past 110 years.

Elite collectors are always searching for an esteemed Ty Cobb Cracker Jack memento, and this crown jewel suffices as one of his foremost examples. Inspiring collectors is the majestic Georgia Peach batting stance, with Cobb's intense facial expression clearly indicating he is ready to wage war against another overmatched twirler. It's no secret that Ty Cobb is widely considered one of the finest players to have ever graced a baseball diamond. He could hit (his .366 average is still the best of the best), run (he stole 891 bases), throw and field better than any player in the Deadball Era (with all due respect to Hans Wagner), with his most amazing achievement being his incomparable run of 12 batting titles in 13 seasons, including nine consecutive titles from 1907-1915! In fact, 1914 would see Tyrus post another league-leading average (.368) while also pacing the Junior Circuit in OPS via a stellar .979 mark. No wonder his pre-WWI cardboard remnants are among the premier collectibles in the hobby, with only a handful of his issues possibly achieving the unparalleled stature of a mid-grade 1914 Cracker Jack that has properly earned a final resting place on PSA's Top 250 Sportscards list. Ty Cobb's presence on this eye-pleasing memento is eye-catching to say the least, with the splendid aesthetics substantiating the grade.

The fiery Detroit Tiger's remarkable hitting prowess is forever depicted via his hands-apart batting pose, with this classic Type 1 image fetching a staggering $500K+ in a 2023 public auction. Regarding Cracker Jack sales, another PSA 5 Cobb sold for $90K over a year ago (February 2022), a low-grade SGC 2.5 fetched $40K in December 2021, and a PSA 8 achieved a record-setting $516K in January 2022, with all of these imposing pricing points surely justifying the momentous standing of the exalted 1914 Cracker Jack Cobb. While scattered staining exists on both sides (common for any 1914 Cracker Jack subject), the diminutive areas of staining on the sanctified Tyrus illustration are rendered virtually negligible, not compromising this Cooperstown-worthy image whatsoever. For nearly 25 years, Cobb ravaged pitchers with his uncanny batting skills, justifying his unequivocal standing as one of baseball's five 1936 Hall of Fame charter members. While many cards of this iconic batsman reveal glorious images, it is his esteemed Cracker Jack subject that truly boasts the quintessential Cobb batting pose; an unwavering keepsake transcending us back to the early 20th century when the Georgia Peach dominated our National Pastime at a far superior level than any of his inferior peers!

MIN BID $25,000
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