In a remarkable stroke of luck for baseball memorabilia enthusiasts, an extraordinary collection of century-old baseball cards has recently come to light. Discovered by an individual in Northern California, these baseball cards offer a tangible link to the sport’s storied past, captivating collectors and historians alike.
The journey of this remarkable collection began with a simple phone call to Auction Monthly, a Granite Bay-based auction house, in late September. The caller mentioned an old tin box filled with baseball cards that he wished to sell. Little did he know that this phone call would unveil a remarkable piece of history. Within the rusty Pedro Cut Plug Tobacco tin lay a preserved assembly of strip, caramel, and tobacco baseball cards, dating back over a century.
The collection belonged to “Ed,” who was born in 1909, spent his childhood in Oakland, and passed away in 1994. Ed’s love for his collection of baseball cards never wavered throughout his life. According to Ed’s son, his father was a product of the Great Depression and never threw anything away. The tin, likely a gift from an uncle, became a treasure chest for Ed during his childhood. After his father’s passing in 1994, Ed’s son rediscovered the tin in a closet.
Now, almost three decades since its rediscovery, the collection has made its way into the modern collecting hobby, bridging the gap between the past and the present.
The tin contained an astonishing array of over 600 cards, all dating back to 1926 or earlier. The cards’ condition reflected both their age and the love they received from the young hands that once held them. The strip cards, often torn or cut and carried in pockets, bore the signs of being cherished possessions. Among the collection, the presence of Babe Ruth was particularly pronounced, with no fewer than 20 cards featuring the legendary “Bambino.”
The highlights of this extraordinary collection included a 1919-21 W514 Shoeless Joe Jackson card, a 1921 E220 National Caramel Ruth card, a 1922 American Caramel E121 Ruth card, and several cards representing players from the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal. The collection also boasted several 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 numerous pre-War sets, featuring a diverse selection of strip cards from 1919-1923, reflecting Ed’s childhood years, as well as several 1924-26 Zeenuts cards, a series distributed on the west coast.
When the auction company acquired the collection, they were amazed by the number of Ruth cards—a truly astonishing find that further underscored the significance of this collection. The company promptly 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 merely a transaction or an addition to the inventory. It serves as a poignant reminder of the deep-rooted love for baseball that transcends generations. The collection, once a young boy’s pride, carried through the decades in a simple tobacco tin, now stands as a symbol of the timeless allure of the game and its heroes.
Each worn card, frayed at the edges, not only by time but also by the eager fingers of a young fan, tells a story. It reveals the tale of a boy who idolized figures like Ruth, Jackson, Cobb, and Sisler and who, through these cards, held a piece of his heroes in his hands. This story resonates with many who collect, not for monetary value, but for the emotional connection, nostalgia, and love of the game.
As this collection enters the public sphere, it serves as a reminder of the enduring legacy of baseball’s early legends. The excitement of unearthing such a cache of memorabilia is akin to finding 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 event, linking tangible artifacts from the past with the present-day passion for collecting.
Each card from this extraordinary find serves as a bridge across time, connecting the dots of baseball’s evolution. As the auction house processes the collection, each piece will find its way into the hands of those who appreciate not only its rarity but also the journey these cards have undergone. From the pocket of a young baseball fan in the early 20th century to a revered place in the collections of modern enthusiasts, these cards carry with them the essence of America’s pastime—a legacy that continues to captivate and inspire.
