In a stroke of luck for baseball memorabilia enthusiasts, a magnificent collection of century-old baseball cards has recently been discovered, offering a tangible connection to the sport’s rich history. Found by an individual in Northern California, this remarkable find has added a precious piece of baseball history to the modern collecting hobby.
The saga of this extraordinary collection began with a phone call to Auction Monthly, an auction house based in Granite Bay, in late September. A man notified them about an old tin box filled with baseball cards that he wanted to sell. What followed was a meeting that unveiled a truly astonishing piece of history. Inside a rusty Pedro Cut Plug Tobacco tin, carefully preserved within, were strip, caramel, and tobacco baseball cards, some dating back over a century.
The collection once belonged to a man known as “Ed,” who was born in 1909, grew up in Oakland, and passed away in 1994. Throughout his life, Ed cherished his collection of baseball cards, a sentiment shared by many of his generation who lived through the Great Depression. The tin, possibly a gift from an uncle, became a treasure chest for young Ed, and it was revealed to his son during his early years. After Ed’s passing in 1994, the tin was rediscovered in a closet.
Now, nearly thirty years since its rediscovery, this extraordinary collection has found its way into a hobby that, while vastly different from the 1920s, still ignites the same fascination.
The tin contained an astonishing variety of more than 600 cards, all from the year 1926 or earlier. These cards bore the marks of their age and the love of young hands that treasured them, with strip cards showing signs of being carried in pockets, often torn or cut. Among the collection, Babe Ruth’s presence was unmistakable, with no less than 20 cards depicting the legendary “Bambino.”
The collection featured several notable highlights, including a 1919-21 W514 Shoeless Joe Jackson card, a 1921 E220 National Caramel Ruth card, a 1922 American Caramel E121 Ruth card, cards representing almost every player involved in the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal, numerous Ruth cards from the W514 series dating from 1919-21, three 1920 W519 Ruth cards, a 1922 American Caramel E121 Ty Cobb card, a 1921 W516 Ty Cobb card, and a 1920 W519 George Sisler card.
This collection spanned several pre-War sets, encompassing a diverse selection of strip cards from 1919-1923, reflecting Ed’s childhood years, and several 1924-26 Zeenuts cards, a series distributed on the West Coast.
The auction company, upon acquiring this treasure trove of baseball history, was astounded by the number of Ruth cards, a revelation that underscored the collection’s immense significance. Without delay, the company set about selecting the finest cards for grading, while others were sold in their original state.
For the world of baseball card collecting, this discovery is not just another transaction or addition to the inventory. It is a poignant reminder of the deep-rooted love for baseball that transcends generations. Once a source of pride for a young boy, carefully safeguarded throughout the decades in a tobacco tin, this collection now stands as a symbol of the timeless allure of the game and its revered heroes.
Each card, worn at the edges not only by the passage of time but also by the eager fingers of a devoted fan, holds a unique story. It tells the tale of a boy who idolized baseball legends like Ruth, Jackson, Cobb, and Sisler. Through these cards, he could hold a piece of his heroes in his hands. This story strikes a chord with many collectors, who value the emotional connection, nostalgia, and love for the game above monetary worth.
As this extraordinary collection enters the public sphere, it serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of baseball’s early luminaries. The excitement surrounding the unearthing of such a cache of memorabilia is akin to stumbling upon a hidden gem that, once polished, sheds light on a bygone era of sports history. For collectors, historians, and baseball aficionados alike, the release of this century-old collection is a momentous occasion, forging a link between tangible artifacts from the past and the passion for collecting in the present.
Each card from this remarkable find acts as a bridge across time, connecting the dots of baseball’s evolution. As the auction house carefully catalogs and processes the collection, every piece will find its way into the hands of those who appreciate not only their rarity but also the remarkable journey these cards have undertaken. From the pocket of a young baseball fan in the early 20th century to a treasured position in the collections of modern enthusiasts, these cards carry with them the very essence of America’s pastime—a legacy that continues to captivate and inspire.