(LOT 4)
1888 N162 Goodwin Champions Cap Anson SGC 7 NM – Only One SGC Example Graded Higher!
NEAR-MINT N162 ANSON!!!... One of the most artistic baseball card sets extant are the 1888 Goodwin Champions subjects issued by Goodwin & Company, with this breathtaking 50-card gathering allegedly issued to compete against the previous year's popular 1887 Allen & Ginter compilation. Dubbed N162s, these exquisite cards were distributed in packs of Gypsy Queen/Old Judge Cigarettes and included eight baseball players as well as other popular sports athletes of the day including football, cyclists, tennis, chess, etc. The set's most coveted and valuable player is the immortal 19th century Hall of Famer, Adrian "Cap" Anson, presented here in an incredible SGC 7 NM holder.

One of only four SGC examples at this hallowed plateau, it has been bested by a single SGC 7.5 specimen, with PSA  listing three 8 NM-MT Anson as the highest graded copies. Remarkable as it may seem, this 136-year-old marvel has stubbornly defied time, somehow managing to retain virtually all of its original factory-issued attributes. It has been some three years since the $207K sale of a PSA 8 example literally rocked the hobby, with a PSA 7 realizing $78K in February 2022 and an SGC 7 nailing down $36K earlier this year. While we cannot say with any certainty what this extraordinary masterpiece will ultimately fetch, what we do know is that its heart-stopping aesthetics are consistent with any of the other 7 and 8 examples, and could literally make anyone skip a beat. The Goodwin Champion cards are ultra-popular with vintage enthusiasts, most likely due to their brilliant assortment of richly hued color patterns, with most other 19th century cards and cabinets reflecting either sepia-toned or black and white images.

The offered legend, Capt. Adrian Constantine Anson, proudly stands as the most esteemed player for a majority of the 19th century enthusiasts. The Chicago club's Hall of Fame first sacker was the inaugural member of the illustrious 3,000-hit club and ended a remarkable 27-year career with a .329 lifetime batting average. Furthermore, he clubbed 97 home runs (including five over a two-game span), in an era where only a handful of round-trippers in a single season was a formidable feat. Speaking of which, this 1888 N162 Goodwin Champion near-mint keepsake is a resounding home run in itself. Anson's stoic lithographic portrait image reveals crystal-clear clarity while emanating a sparkling array of blue, yellow, orange and pink colors/tints. Atypical for this issue, the image depicts excellent centering between four bright borders, with only a slight favoritism towards the upper edge.

Pack-fresh surfaces have side-stepped any glaring blemishes and truly justify the grade, with subtle wear to the somewhat square corners preventing a higher assessment. A completely intact checklist verso is the final exclamation point, with each of the 50 athletes listed in alphabetical order within their respective sport. One of the finest N162 Anson's on the planet, its miraculous eye appeal and technical attributes combine to merit it the highest hobby accolades and a well-deserved place in any premier world-class collection. It certainly appears as if this museum-worthy tobacco gem has just been pulled from a pack of Goodwin & Co. Cigarettes, rekindling thoughts of how this majestic 19th century superstar will forever reside as the first MLB player to tally the landmark 3,000 safeties!

MIN BID $7,500
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