2019 October Legends Closing October 19
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2019
Graded FR 1.5 by PSA. Hall of Famer, in a debut-year gum card appearance. For the discriminating enthusiast who's putting together a creditable assembly of HOF rookie cards, here's a splendid example of the maddeningly scarce Satchel Paige entry. The legendary and charismatic hurler – a former Negro Leaguer and an athlete who inspired untold fascination among those who followed his career – appeared on just three career-contemporary, nationally distributed trading cards: the pieces produced by Bowman in 1949, Topps in 1953, and this supremely challenging commemorative – the first of the three Paige tributes – released by Leaf in 1948-49. In other words, it's daunting to pursue Paige in any of his few baseball card incarnations, let alone a rookie item from a relatively obscure series. And, Paige's card is found only among a persistently rare, Short Print group within that environment! This item's appropriately toned borders frame a brightly colored image that benefits from the "bonus" attribute of quality centering for the issue. This desirable card, which was harshly and perhaps hastily graded on-site during the opening days of the 2019 National Convention, carries VG/EX-level presentation quality, and was apparently downgraded due to back wrinkling. A legitimately tough, always in-demand collectible!