It's a story of triumph as timeless as the game itself; the Detroit Tigers toiled in mediocrity for the first five years of its existence, but then one man changed it all. Languishing as a part-time player for his first two campaigns, Hall of Famer Ty Cobb became a full-time starter and lifted the Tigers to three consecutive American League pennants, then went on to be the game's greatest hitter and base-stealer, posting records that would stand for decades. If you've always wanted a T206 "Red Portrait" Ty Cobb card at the EX/MT level (and let's be honest, what advanced vintage collector wouldn't?), we defy you to find a more eye-pleasing example that the one offered here. While it's not a hard-and-fast rule, it seems like when this issue features the more difficult El Principe De Gales back, the depth of the pigmentation is slightly more forthcoming, forgoing the usual reddish-orange tint for a deeper, more saturated look that perfectly complements the stoic and precise image of "The Georgia Peach." While the corners show light touches that align with the grade, the astute centering and brilliance of the white border project an appearance that visually makes the endpoints seem more squared, closer in comparison to examples at the NM level. Produced out of Factory No. 17 in Virginia, as the boldly printed El Principe de Gales advertisement states, this example is a truly exceptional representation of one of the most coveted baseball cards in all of the hobby and a high-end specimen for the grade. Only 19 examples are on record at PSA that are identified with an EPDG reverse and this is the only PSA 6 on record with just one graded higher.
