1876 scorecard in REA

[RUKen]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

As for your question about the colors listed with the Chicago player's names, in 1876 the Chicago team had each player wear a different colored fez like hat (no tassel). The program shows the color each player wore.

The Threads of Our Game website has further information about the Chicago uniforms in 1876: http://www.threadsofourgame.com/1876-chicago/

[barrysloate]

Jay- while I do think it is a really great scorecard, I'm not sure I see the significance of this game. Each of the teams had played roughly a dozen games before May 30, and while this was the first National League match between Boston and Chicago, do historians think of those teams as natural rivals? It seems like any league material from 1876 is important, and while this particular match is noteworthy, it doesn't strike me as historic. If it were played on opening day, making it the first league game in history, that would be extraordinary. This one is a tier or two below. Still a cool scorecard, though, no question about that.

[GaryPassamonte]

Jay- As someone who also bid on this scorecard, your points are well taken. However, as an underbidder on the scorecard, I believe if I or any other bidder was out of the equation,
the price would be significantly lower regardless of the historical significance of the scorecard. I think if it sold tomorrow, it would not come near the price realized on Saturday.

I had forgotten about the different coloration of the 1876 Chicago players' fezlike caps. Uniform history remains unchanged.

[oldjudge]

LOL---Gary, you state that as an underbidder, if you or other underbidders had not bid the price would have been lower. What lot was this not the case for? If you were an aggressive bidder on this lot, but believe that it went way too high, why were you bidding? If you want to see high prices let's talk about the PSA 8.5 Curley Three Stooges card or the $95,000 presidents card.
Barry--who knows. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I could see this on display in Wrigley or Atlanta when (if) the Cubs play the Braves next year. Think about it, the person who scored this scorecard sat in the South End Grounds 138 years ago and watched Al Spaulding pitch to George Wright while he was being caught by Deacon White. This is not a card that was produced after the fact, which by the way would cost many multiples of the scorecard price. This scorecard was part of the game. BTW, Anson talks about this very game in his autobiography.

[barrysloate]

Agreed Jay, that every scorecard and ticket stub was in attendance for a game, and that has tremendous appeal to the people who collect them. And I also agree that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. All I was saying was that while the game was noteworthy, I don't consider it historic.

Suppose you had the scorecard for the game that Babe Ruth hit his 200th home run. That is certainly a noteworthy game, and 200 HR's is a great milestone. But I would not consider that historic. His 1st and 714th would be historic, and maybe his 500th too, but not his 200th. I'm just distinguishing between what is really cool and what is legendary. Subjective, no doubt.

And assuming you won the scorecard, you have the Sloate seal of approval on it. It really is a nice one.

[oldjudge]

Barry--I guess I'd agree with your analogy if this was the scorecard from the second or third game of the Boston-Chicago three game series. However, it was the first. Other than the scorecard from the first game in NL history, I see no more important 1876 scorecard, and I assume the scorecard from the first game would sell for six figures, if one exists.

[GaryPassamonte]

Jay- I guess I got a little crazy when bidding on the scorecard. Thank God I caught myself and realized I had no business sensibly being in the fray.

[oldjudge]

Good thing these guys weren't bidding too!

[David Atkatz]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Agreed Jay, that every scorecard and ticket stub was in attendance for a game, and that has tremendous appeal to the people who collect them.

Except for full tickets, which were not there. That's why I don't understand why they sell for a considerable premium. Yes, they are rare, but so what? They have as much to do with the game in question as any ticket I could buy at any box office today.

[djson1]

Just my 2 cents: I think $5,500 for any scorecard is crazy...but then again, a LOT of things sell for crazy prices these days. I miss the prices of the old days....sigh. (I'm more of a buyer than a seller...so, that's why)