Kid Nichols Rookie Card?

[oldjudge]

This question originally arose because I am in the midst of reading a biography of Kid Nichols by Richard Bogovich. While reading this, I learned that the Old Judge set could have easily had one additional HOFer. In 1889, Kid Nichols played for Omaha in the Western Association. Managing that team was future HOFer Frank Selee. Since the Old Judge set featured some manager cards, Selee could have had a card (and in fact one may be eventually found). In fact, it was because of a promise to Selee that Nichols moved to Boston with Selee for the 1890 season. If not for Selee, Nichols’ preference was to join Cincinnati in 1890. Imagine how this would have altered the balance of power in the NL?

[Kenny Cole]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

This question originally arose because I am in the midst of reading a biography of Kid Nichols by Richard Bogovich. While reading this, I learned that the Old Judge set could have easily had one additional HOFer. In 1889, Kid Nichols played for Omaha in the Western Association. Managing that team was future HOFer Frank Selee. Since the Old Judge set featured some manager cards, Selee could have had a card (and in fact one may be eventually found). In fact, it was because of a promise to Selee that Nichols moved to Boston with Selee for the 1890 season. If not for Selee, Nichols’ preference was to join Cincinnati in 1890. Imagine how this would have altered the balance of power in the NL?

Finding a Selee would be huge. And yes, had Boston been without perhaps the best pitcher of the 1890s, that would substantially altered the balance of power.

[oldjudge]

I thought people might enjoy seeing some Nichols cabinets. The first is an Old Judge proof which came directly from the Nichols family. The latter two are two different Old Judge cabinets.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

I thought people might enjoy seeing some Nichols cabinets. The first is an Old Judge proof which came directly from the Nichols family. The latter two are two different Old Judge cabinets.

Nice cabinets, Jay. Thanks for sharing them.

[puckpaul]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

I thought people might enjoy seeing some Nichols cabinets. The first is an Old Judge proof which came directly from the Nichols family. The latter two are two different Old Judge cabinets.

Those cabinets are beautiful, thanks for sharing.

[Joe_G.]

Jay, amazing trio of Nichols cabinets (poses 2, 4, & 5)! Are you aware of poses 1 & 3 in cabinet form? Everyone else would have stopped after one example

[rjackson44]

Terrific

[oldjudge]

Originally Posted by Joe_G.

Jay, amazing trio of Nichols cabinets (poses 2, 4, & 5)! Are you aware of poses 1 & 3 in cabinet form? Everyone else would have stopped after one example

I am not, but as you know the cataloging of N173s is spotty at best.

[bcbgcbrcb]

I'm a little bit late to the party here but just saw this thread and read through everyone's opinions.

While I generally consider any minor league/amateur card issues to be pre-rookies (i.e. - Zeenuts, etc.) and MLB issues to be rookie cards, I would classify the N172 Old Judge cards to be a Major League issue although some minor league teams/players were included. Off the top of my head, I believe that Clark Griffith also falls into the same category as Nichols, appearing pictured in his minor league uniform but part of a widely recognized Major League set as the N172 Old Judge is. There may be one or two others that I am not recalling at this time.

The 1889 cabinet card that Derek mentioned is a great item and could be considered Nichols' earliest card since it is a cabinet but not really a rookie card as it was not part of a catalogued set and studio photographer's cabinets, in general, were not produced to be collected by fans so the intent isn't really there either. The Sporting News premium mentioned earlier also wouldn't qualify as a rookie card, besides the obvious part of being produced a number of years later, the size of the item would eliminate it from consideration as it could never be considered a "card", thus eliminating the possibility of it being a rookie card. This type of item, if the earliest issued for that player could be an earliest collectible or possibly even be called a rookie issue but not a "rookie card".

I realize that this subject will never get everyone to be in agreement but, hopefully, explaining the rationale behind each of these classifications will help to clarify some things.

[Baseball Rarities]

Originally Posted by puckpaul

Those cabinets are beautiful, thanks for sharing.

+1 Some of my all-time favorites.