(LOT 74)
1933 DeLong Gum Co. #17 Pepper Martin PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ - "POP 1" & The Highest Graded PSA Example!
POP 1; HIGHEST GRADED "PEPPER"!!! A member of the St. Louis Cardinals' Hall of Fame, popular third sacker Pepper Martin is renowned for his integral role as a member of the legendary 1930s Cardinals "Gas House Gang", with his aggressive style earning him the nickname "the wild horse of the Osage" by a Rochester sportswriter. His iconic affiliation with the aforementioned "Gas House Gang" justify why collectors actively seek his most prized cardboard artifacts, with arguably none more significant than this PSA 8.5 NM-MT+ DeLong Gum Co. #17 offering that suffices as the SOLE and HIGHEST GRADED example! Furthermore, of the 2,400+ PSA encapsulated copies for ALL 24 DeLong subjects, only four other 8.5 examples exist with a meager two examples reflecting PSA 9 MINT assessments (Traynor & McManus).

Martin's classic sliding pose is a testament to his daring base running antics which helped spark the championship Cardinal teams of the 1930s, with Pepper leading the American League in stolen bases on three different occasions (1933; '34; '36). Extremely vibrant yellow, green, red and blue hues provide a spectacular overall image that is well positioned between four bright white borders. Final superlatives include near-immaculate surfaces, crystal-clear clarity, right-angled corners consistent with the grade and vivid print typography including the verso's popular "HOOK SLIDE" playing. This is a breathtaking pack-fresh specimen that has rightfully earned its highest graded Pop 1 assessment that is synonymous with the immense stature of Martin's 1931 and 1934 World Series Championships!.

MIN BID $2,500
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MLI is offering The Finest 1933 DeLong Gum Co. Set - #1 on the PSA Set Registry in an alternative selling format. All Lots numbered from 58-81 will be sold individually to the highest bidder, unless Lot # 57's hammer price exceeds the hammer price of Lots 58-81 combined cumulative total. In which case, the cards would be sold as a set. Once bidding starts, the green check mark below simply designates which format has the current high bid. In case of a tie - the set wins.

Lot 57 (Set Total):  $182,903
Lot 58-81 (Individual Card Total):  $282,440