This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/7/2022
Prepare yourself for complete and utter astonishment! While it's not technically considered a rookie card, and he's still not in the Hall of Fame, many collectors consider the 1915 Cracker Jack card of Shoeless Joe Jackson to be among the most, if not THE most, important baseball cards ever produced. 1915 was a year of much contention for Jackson. He had spent the winter months headlining a vaudeville act that toured throughout the south, drawing good-sized crowds of curious onlookers. In fact, he came to enjoy the stage and the theatrical life so much that he initially refused to report to spring training, threatening to quit baseball entirely and dedicate his efforts entirely to the performing arts. This resulted in his wife, Kate Jackson, filing for divorce, though the two eventually reconciled and remained together for the rest of his life. The featured collectible keepsake is a veritable tribute to Jackson's greatness on the diamond, graded NM-MT 8 by the professional evaluators at PSA. A profoundly saturated blood red backdrop supports a very clearly defined image of the immortal slugger, showing him in the follow-through of the swing that Babe Ruth reported to model his own approach after. The alabaster white borders show no signs of errant print overspray so commonly found on the issue, while all four corners and edges approach or meet the standards for a MINT designation. The reverse is clean and blemish-free, sporting boldly struck black ink against the off-white canvass. In fact, if the centering placement on the obverse were slightly more precise, there's a very good chance this one would have received a loftier assessment. One of the most recognizable images in the entire hobby, placed upon a palate that appears untouched by human hands and has survived well over a century in nearly immaculate condition, deserving of a place in the most advanced of world-class collections. To date, just two examples have graded higher at the Newport Beach evaluation firm. Opportunities such as this arise very seldom in the lifetime of a dedicated enthusiast, so don't miss this chance to become the envy of your collecting peers!