2020 Holiday Auction Closing December 12-13
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/12/2020
Graded NM 7 by PSA. Hall of Famer. "Sweet Caporal"-branded back. This is one of just ten examples at its tier (with four graded higher) among a total of nearly 350 copies recorded in PSA's census reporting. Whenever a pitcher's greatness is judged, whether it be Mathewson or Maddux, the incomparable Walter Johnson is always used as a benchmark. The tall, lanky righthander owned one of the most explosive and deceptive fastballs in the game. As one of his contemporaries said about him, "You can't hit what you can't see." At the time this card was produced, Johnson was just starting to get into his groove. Coming off of a losing season in 1909, when he still posted a phenomenal 2.21 ERA, Johnson won 25 games while striking out 313 men in 1910. From 1910 through 1919, he amazingly amassed at least 20 wins every season and led the league in strikeouts in all but one of those years. His ERA climbed above the 2.00 mark only once! All of this for a horrible offensive team that provided minimal run support and not one pennant in any of those grueling seasons. One can only imagine what Johnson's wins total would have been, if a standout team had been backing him up! This T205 "Gold Border" card of Johnson is an exceptional treasure. Its borders are, indeed, deeply metallic in presentation with just minor spots of routine edge wear and well-defined corners. Coloration of the image and its surrounding graphics are intense and magnetic. A solidly red-inked brand advertisement adorns the reverse. This is a bright T205 specimen to be cherished and admired, in gratifying Near Mint condition.