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1876 Isaac White Hartford Dark Blues CDV with Candy Cummings, PSA Authentic....
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Sold on Aug 27, 2022 for:
$9,900.00
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Description
The dawning of Major League Baseball!
1876 Isaac White Hartford Dark Blues CDV with Candy Cummings,
PSA Authentic. From the inaugural year of the National League,
therefore the first season of Major League Baseball, comes this
incredible piece of baseball history: a carte-de-visite of the
Hartford Dark Blues. That squad, which finished at 47-21, featured
some fine players: former Cincinnati Red Stocking, Doug Allison;
British-born batsman, Dick Higham; and manager, Bob "Death to
Flying Things" Ferguson. However, the real stars were the
moundsmen, an imposing duo of Tommy Bond, an Irishman who won
thirty games that year, and William "Candy" Cummings.Students of early baseball are fully aware of Mr. Cummings and his contribution to the game. Legend has it that he threw the first curve ball in history after watching the peculiar flight of clam shells that were tossed at a Brooklyn beach. He realized that he might be able to hurl a baseball in such a fashion, thereby fooling opposing batsmen. Others attempted to take credit for this discovery, but Candy is generally the hero of this story. Historian David Nemec states, "Regardless of (the pitch's) inventor, Cummings was the one who made a curve ball a necessary part of almost every future successful pitcher's arsenal." He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939. Dark Blues' team president, Morgan Bulkeley, was the first NL President, an honor that eventually landed him in Cooperstown, as well.
Our offered piece, a carte-de-visite (CDV) that features Cummings and his 1876 Hartford teammates, is a treasure that has survived in lovely condition. This virtually unique entry is far more rare than the CDV of the 1875 squad. CDV's produced by individual studios, such as the example in question, were usually locally sold as keepsakes and created in limited numbers, therefore ensuring that modern populations of these gems are microscopic. Of particular note is the fact that Hall of Famer Cummings died in 1924, after spending many years out of the limelight; contemporary items relating to his playing career are almost unheard-of, nowadays. The physical state of the item is as fine as one could hope for. The mount is in great shape, with very little discoloration or wear. The image quality has stood the test of time, with just a fine hint of fading that, in all honesty, could just as likely have been a product of the photographic process, all those years ago. Neatly written in the left-hand margin of the piece is "Hartford B.B.C. 1876." Reverse exhibits the advertising for "Isaac White, No. 15 Pratt St., Hartford, Conn." This piece can only serve to elevate any collection that gives this gorgeous CDV a new home. Encapsulated PSA Authentic.
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Auction Info
2022 August 27 - 28 Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction #50058 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
August, 2022
27th-28th
Saturday-Sunday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 14
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 1,712
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
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