(LOT 21)
1911 T205 Gold Border Tris Speaker Piedmont Cigarettes PSA 8 NM-MT – Only One PSA Example Graded Higher!
PACK-FRESH GRAY EAGLE!!! You will receive no argument from any baseball historian regarding Tris Speaker's stature as one of the greatest center fielders in baseball history. Owner of 3,514 hits, including 792 doubles and 222 triples, Speaker accumulated an astounding .345 lifetime batting average, and it was his 1916 American League batting championship that ultimately ended TY Cobb's unfathomable nine-year streak. He was famous for playing the shallowest center field in major league history, almost daring the hitter to drive the ball over his head, and is credited with the most outfield assists in major league history, including a single-season record of 35 in 1909. No wonder enthusiasts look to capture his most desirable cards with one of those popular cardboard collectibles, his T205 Gold Border artifact, presented here in a miraculous PSA 8 NM-MT holder. One of a meager six examples at this stratospheric plateau, it has only been bested by a single PSA specimen! The T205 Gold Border tobacco cards were issued in 1911, and while they are considered one of the most fantastic eye-pleasing type cards extant, their gold border extreme condition sensitivity has severely limited the number of available high-grade subjects.

Incredibly, this PSA 8 offering reveals uncharacteristic near-perfect centering and remarkable gold borders that have retained virtually all of their original rich hue. Only the two left corner tips reveal some negligible touching, and Speaker's timeless portrait pose emanates a splendid array of sparkling colors, with a seemingly 3D image affixed to a bold blue background framed by the stylish baseball diamond. Immaculate surfaces are consistent with any pack-fresh issue, and the verso's brief Speaker bio and Piedmont Cigarettes ad are completely intact. It was only a few years ago that another PSA 8 example fetched nearly $50K, and considering the hobby continues to realize lofty price tags for the best of the best collectibles, the sky's the limit for this exalted heirloom. Breathtaking to say the least, it conjures up vivid memories of how Speaker and Cobb ruled the centerf ield position during their peak playing days, with its sanctified and extremely rare PSA 8 assessment substantiating why this Gray Eagle treasure should fly directly into your winning hands!

MIN BID $15,000

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