(LOT 110)
T206 Rube Waddell "Throwing" - Sweet Caporal 150 Subjects/Factory 25 (PSA NM/MT 8) - "1 of 1" Piedmonts; NO Piedmonts Graded Higher!
This absolutely magnificent PSA 8 T206 Rube Waddell Piedmont Cigarettes memento resides as the supreme "1 of 1" Sweet Caporal Cigarettes "throwing" subject on PSA's prestigious population report! Rube Waddell is one of the greatest southpaws to ever toe a pitching rubber, and still holds the American League single season record for strikeouts by a left hander, whiffing 349 batters in 1904. His uncanny lifestyle, both on and off the field, included the legend of Waddell chasing Fire Engines at the sound of their whistles and performing cartwheels on the playing field.

Yet he was good enough over an eleven-year period to win almost 200 games, lead the league in strikeouts six consecutive seasons, and compile a microscopic 2.16 lifetime E.R.A, a figure that bests even the immortal Walter Johnson! Unfortunately, due to his crazy on and off the field habits, Connie Mack reluctantly traded him to the Browns before the 1908 season, eventually resulting in this hallowed T206 St. Louis ATC card. In 1910, the Browns shipped him back to the minors and after several minor league seasons, Waddell tragically died in 1914 due to the ill effects of tuberculosis, obtained by helping Kentucky flood victims after standing for hours in icy water to place sandbags on a river embankment.

Tragic to say the least, his heroism and immortal pitching ability both combine to inspire collectors to gather his most sensational cardboard artifacts with so few possibly matching up to this "1 of 1" pinnacle Sweet Cap offering. The classic Rube Waddell throwing pose is nearly un-improvable, with Waddell unleashing one of his unhittable blazing fastballs past another helpless batsman.

His St. Louis uniform's brilliant gray hues are complimented by the bold crimson like period style cap and collar, and the radiant powder blue, yellow, orange and background colors combine to form one of the finest eye pleasing settings you will ever encounter. Needless to say, the pin-point corners and precision cut edges are consistent with their original factory issue date, and the sparkling surfaces have eluded any glaring blemishes. One of the premier Waddell tobacco cards in circulation, its breathtaking aesthetics and superior technical assessment merits it the highest hobby accolades!

MIN BID $1,750