This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2018
While the T206 Honus Wagner card is the most recognized of all sports cards and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card takes the crown as the most significant post-war issue, the honor of the most iconic card of the 19th century has to go to the N162 Goodwin Champions series for their depiction of Hall of Famer Cap Anson. Baseball's first true superstar, Anson was a player and manager with the fabled Chicago White Stockings, now known as the Cubs, and was legendary at both. As a manager, Anson led the White Stockings to five pennants and as a player set virtually every batting record for his time, most of which were eventually surpassed by the likes of Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth. The charter member of the 3,000 hit club, Cap retired in 1897 but he is still the all-time leader in hits, runs scored, doubles, and runs batted in for the Chicago franchise. The featured collectible was issued with the 1888 N162 Goodwin Champions release and is among the very finest cards ever offered with just a handful rated higher than this PSA 6 specimen. A dizzying array of blue, brown and tan color serves as the perfect backdrop to the steely blue of Anson's White Stockings uniform. The image of the mustachioed Anson is adequately well-centered while the corners reveal mild touches that are commensurate with the opined grade, or slightly better. The reverse offers a checklist of the sets subjects and is shown free of any obtrusions other than the usual light discolorations that are virtually unavoidable for a card of this age. An iconic pasteboard that exhibits an almost surreal presence, offered in top-notch EX/MT condition.