(LOT 1046)
1898-99 M101-1 National Copper Plate Co. W.M. Hoy with Louisville
HOY'S LAST CARD!!! The legendary center fielder William "Dummy" Hoy retired after the 1899 campaign with the Louisville Colonels, ending his awe-inspiring 14-year career as baseball's greatest deaf player. Overcoming being deaf from the age of three due to meningitis, as well as standing only 5'4" tall, Hoy dealt with adversity his entire life. His final ACC designated issue is this ultra-rare 1898 Copper Plate 9" x 12" marvel, strikingly similar to the renowned M101-1 Sporting News premiums distributed during the same period. The Copper Plate premiums mirror M101-1 with the exception of the SPORTING NEWS caption being affixed across the top region of the likewise scarce M101-1 subjects. Interestingly enough, the National Copper Plate Co. of Grand Rapids, Mich. produced the classic portrait images utilized for THE SPORTING NEWS publication, with the Sporting News Co. issuing a free premium with each copy of the nationally distributed periodical.

The National Copper Plate Co. decided to sell these thin paper stock premiums in a string-bound group of 50 subjects, with most of the few surviving condition-sensitive examples exhibiting unsightly flaws including two-hole punches along the left border (due to their original binding). This Dummy Hoy offering just happens to exclude any hole punches, exhibiting several tears along the upper and lower borders that are secured via adhesive tape on the verso. A lower left edge chip is evident, and while there are several stray wrinkles and areas of light foxing, the critical Hoy portrait line drawing has eluded any glaring blemishes, revealing brilliant clarity. The 1898 copyright, National Copper Plate Co. brand name, and Hoy's name, position and team are listed beneath his hallowed pose, with the flipside including a brief Hoy biography, the final compliments for this ever-elusive 1898 Dummy Hoy heirloom!

MIN BID $1,000
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