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Description

1909 T204 Ramly Walter Johnson PSA Good+ 2.5. Standing shoulder to shoulder next to the names Cobb, Wagner, and Jackson is the Washington Senators' mound master Walter Johnson. So accomplished was his career that he was one of the first five players to be inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in 1936. A Connecticut arms laboratory recorded Walter Johnson's fastball at 134 feet per second. That is equal to ninety-nine miles per hour, a speed the lanky farmboy was somehow able to generate with a smooth sidearmed motion that baffled and certainly terrified opposing batters. In the blink of an eye... it was over. New York Highlanders outfielder Birdie Cree provided his own methodology for handling Johnson's speed: "When you see the arm start forward, swing." It was said that, "...[Johnson was] the most threatening sight I ever saw in the ball field." And this quote comes from the hardened Ty Cobb in 1907 when Walter was a mere rookie "fresh off the farm" as they say. He was a tall and unassuming sight on the mound... until he threw his fastball which was usually over 90 mph. His 3,500+ strikeouts and 417 victories proved the irascible Cobb's words rather prophetic.

Graded PSA Good+ 2.5. Widely considered to be Johnson's rookie, as no other cards dedicated to him conclusively predate this issue, this card is likewise the most valuable entry in the T204 set. The Ramly series is far more scarce in general than any of the other major tobacco sets issued during the period, and Johnson remains one of its most elusive residents. One finds only light corner blunting and is free of heavy, unsightly creases while showing multiple wrinkles. With no shortage of aesthetic appeal, this solid example of this classic card deserves high ranking in any vintage collection.


Guide Value or Estimate: $40,000 - up.

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Auction Info

Bidding Begins Approx.
January
2nd Friday
Auction Dates
January
30th-31st Friday-Saturday
Proxy Bidding Begins Approx.
6 Days
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: N/A
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 75
Auction Type
Signature Internet Extended Bid: These Auctions are presented via catalog and online. Bidding is taken through our website or via phone. There are two phases of bidding during this type of auction: 1) Normal bidding: Bids are taken up until 10 PM CT the night the auction closes. 2) 30 Minute Ending: On a lot-by-lot basis, starting at 10:00 PM CT, any person who has bid on the lot previously may continue to bid on that lot until there are no more bids for 30 minutes. For example, if you bid on a lot during Normal Bidding, you could participate during Extended Bidding for that lot, but not on lots you did not bid on previously. If a bid was placed at 10:15, the new end time for that lot would become 10:45. If no other bids were placed before 10:45, the lot would close. If you are the high bidder on a lot, changing your bid will not extend the bidding during the 30 Minute Ending phase (only a bid from another bidder will extend bidding). If you are the only bidder at 10 PM, you will automatically win the lot at 10:30. Important: After normal bidding ends, you must be signed-on to the Heritage site to see the bidding option on lots where you qualify for extended bidding and you must be on an individual lot page to reflect the accurate time remaining for that particular lot.
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