This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/1/2022
Just like other baseball cards that rank on the top-10 list of most coveted pasteboards, the T206 Wagner, T206 Plank, and 1954 Bowman Ted Williams to name a few, the 1933 Goudey Nap Lajoie card has a story behind its scarcity that is every bit as entertaining and a little dubious as well. The 1933 Goudey series was greeted with praise as the first mainstream baseball card production to come along in over a decade, purported to be a 240-card set that contained not only the greatest stars of the day but included four different Babe Ruth cards and two examples of Lou Gehrig, along with multiple issues of other legends destined for the Hall of Fame. But there was one slight problem; no one seemed to be able to complete the set. As it turns out, card #106 was never printed and Goudey happily kept collectors chasing after the mythical card to increase sales. But didn't take long for Goudey's ethically-challenged business practice to be discovered and they reluctantly printed the missing card #106 the next year with the look of a 1934 Goudey card. The subject chosen to "complete" the series was Hall of Famer Nap Lajoie, who had been retired for almost 20 years. The card was made available only to those who had formally complained in writing about the missing card, so the number of examples printed is minuscule compared to other Goudey cards, though to be around 100 or so. And of those few examples, most are low-grade due to an indentation on the surface, a result of Goudey using a paper clip to attach the card to a "letter of apology." As the popularity of the 1933 Goudey series grew to become one of the most celebrated collections ever produced, the "1933" Goudey #106 Lajoie became a legendary pasteboard whose legacy, and price, continue to grow with each passing year. Offered is a stunning SGC 5 EX example of one of the hobby's greatest creations. Centered mildly toward the southeast corner, hardly objectionable and very common given the extreme magnitude of the issue, the lime green backdrop that most collectors are only familiar with through photos is robust and bright, ably supporting the sharp and distinct image of Lajoie and matched with well-printed and heavily toned reverse. The corners appear completely in line with the overall assessment, If you're in the market for a '33 Lajoie, here's your chance; they don't come along very often!