October 24, 2024: Fall Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/24/2024
This would be a historically significant baseball card in any respect, a striking image of the legendary Negro League hurler in a Cleveland Indians uniform with an intriguing light blue/green background that neatly matches the pastel tones of so many cards from that issue. Statistics hardly tell the story of the most famous Black ballplayer of the first half of the 20th century. In his prime his exploits were measured in hushed tones and elaborate tales that befitted his status; he barnstormed around the country when he wasn’t laboring in the chaotic Negro Leagues, bringing fans across the land a glimpse of what was to come after Jackie, and reminding us of the unforgivable sin that a nation had committed against a race of people. It could also be pointed out from a historical perspective that this was the card that launched a thousand (million?) misspellings. Bowman rendered the Hall of Famer with an extra “l” in his first name, a misspelling that would be repeated in Paige’s most attractive and recognizable card, his 1953 Topps version. This one looks like it was pulled from a pack yesterday and is graded PSA 6, with nice color and just a little bit off center.
1949 Bowman Satchel Paige No. 224 PSA 6
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