Pre-War Highlights from Huggins & Scott Winter Auction
The Huggins & Scott Winter Auction features plenty of faces familiar to pre-war collectors.
Collectors looking for a showstopping centerpiece can shop iconic single-card lots like 1933 Goudey Ruth or a T206 Cobb, and those who prefer bulk can consider collections of 1940 Play Ball, T205, or an R327 Diamond Stars assortment.
Let’s review some of the top items.
Lot #101: 1920 W516-1 Uncut Strip Card Sheet
Tremendous insight was employed by the producers of the 1920 W516-1 designation as a whopping 70% of the players on the offered uncut strip of 10 cards would eventually be enshrined at Cooperstown with three from the inaugural class! This 105-year-old survivor has endured the century in much better condition than when infrequently encountered on the secondary market.
Subjects include from left-to-right: #1 Ruth, #2 Groh, #3 Bodie, #4 Schalk (creased), #5 Speaker/#6 Cobb (creased between both players, mostly on Speaker’s end), #7 Hornsby/#8 W. Johnson (creased between both players, mostly on Hornsby’s end), #9 Alexander and #10 Burns. A truly remarkable diamond antique featuring a host of “dead ball” legends!
Lot # 13: 1925-1931 W590 Lou Gehrig Rookie
Like a bullet, the offered 1925-1931 W590 Lou Gehrig rookie (hand cut) strip card has surged up vintage hobbyists want lists. Only 44 copies (25 SGC, 19 PSA) of this very early “Iron Horse” have been validated by the major grading services. The black-and-white portrait of the future New York Yankee Hall of Famer was meticulously cut from a larger strip. This smiling heart of “Murderers’ Row” has survived the century in stunning condition by exhibiting four sharp corners, unchipped edges and crystal clear surface registration. Despite a hint of glue residue and faint patch of paper loss on the blank reverse, the overall presentation of this Triple Crown winner is not significantly impacted. A truly praiseworthy 1920s Type card befitting any advanced pre-war collection!
Lot # 114: 1933 Goudey #149 Babe Ruth
For their inaugural Big League Chewing Gum product, the Goudey Gum Company of Boston pulled out all the stops in promoting Babe Ruth as the Hall of Fame slugger is pictured not once, or twice, or even thrice – but a whopping four times throughout the 239-card set! The home run titan packs a mighty punch on the offered 1933 Goudey #149 gum card. This childhood treasure was obviously admired by its original owner as this “Bambino” displays a combination of handling and wear including creasing, surface soiling and corner/edge wear. Despite those faults, this Ruth is not severely impacted and is desirable regardless of condition. The green text reverse is problem-free.
Lot # 134: 1940 Play Ball Partial Set (179/240)
A staggering lineup of Hall of Fame talent throughout baseball history is captured with the offered 1940 Play Ball partial set of (179/240) cards including (43) tougher high numbers. This “pictorial news record of America’s favorite sport” almost uniformly presents in the (VG to EX) range with some better or lesser and is largely crease-free.
Lot # 49: 1909-1911 T206 White Border Christy Mathewson
A capless Christy Mathewson appears every bit of a “Christian Gentleman” on the offered 1909-1911 T206 White Border Portrait pose. This New York Giants Class of 1936 Hall of Fame pitching icon ranks in the upper 20% of the player/pose/brand combination judged by the authenticator and sports a Piedmont 150 back.
Lot # 102: 1920 W519 Unnumbered Babe Ruth
A jolly Babe Ruth makes his “Big Apple” debut on the offered 1920 W519 Unnumbered strip card. Although this portrait of the rotund New York Yankees Hall of Fame slugger reveals moderate creasing throughout (along with a dot of paper loss above his cap), the century-old illustration of “The Bambino” is quite vibrant with an impressive overall eye appeal. The blank reverse displays moderate soiling. Only 52 total copies of this All-American hero have been judged by the grading service.
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