In a remarkable find for baseball memorabilia enthusiasts, a treasure trove of century-old baseball cards has been discovered, providing a tangible link to the sport’s storied past. This extraordinary collection, found by an individual in Northern California, has ignited a renewed interest in baseball history within the modern collecting hobby.
The journey of this incredible collection began with a simple phone call to Auction Monthly, a renowned auction house based in Granite Bay. In late September, a man reached out to the auction house with news of an old tin box filled with baseball cards that he wished to sell. Little did he know that this meeting would unveil a truly remarkable piece of history. Carefully preserved within a rusty Pedro Cut Plug Tobacco tin were an array of strip, caramel, and tobacco baseball cards, their origins dating back over a century.
This astounding collection had once belonged to “Ed,” who was born in 1909 and spent his formative years in Oakland. Throughout his life, Ed held steadfastly onto his cherished collection of baseball cards, a symbol of his unwavering love for the game. As Ed’s son recounts, his father, like many others of his generation who endured the hardships of the Great Depression, never threw anything away. The tin, likely a gift from an uncle, became a childhood treasure chest—a secret world of baseball heroes—revealed to Ed’s son during his early years. After Ed’s passing in 1994, the tin was rediscovered in a closet.
Now, almost three decades since its rediscovery, this extraordinary collection has found its way into a hobby that, while vastly different from the 1920s, still evokes the same fascination for the sport.
Inside the tin, a staggering array of more than 600 cards awaited discovery, all originating from the year 1926 or earlier. The cards, reflecting their age and the adoration of the young hands that once held them, bore the marks of being cherished possessions. Among the collection, the presence of a baseball legend stood out—Babe Ruth. The collection boasted no fewer than 20 cards depicting the iconic “Bambino.”
This collection showcased some incredible highlights, including a 1919-21 W514 Shoeless Joe Jackson card, a 1921 E220 National Caramel Ruth card, a 1922 American Caramel E121 Ruth card, cards representing almost every player from the infamous 1919 Black Sox scandal, multiple Ruth cards from the W514 series dating 1919-21, three 1920 W519 Ruth cards, a 1922 American Caramel E121 Ty Cobb card, a 1921 W516 Ty Cobb card, and a 1920 W519 George Sisler card.
This collection spanned several sets from the pre-War era, encompassing a diverse selection of strip cards from 1919 to 1923, reflecting Ed’s childhood years, as well as various 1924-26 Zeenuts cards, a series distributed on the West Coast.
When the auction company acquired this extraordinary collection, they were astounded by the number of Ruth cards—making it clear that this find held immense significance. They promptly undertook the task of selecting the finest cards for grading, while selling others in their original state.
For the world of baseball card collecting, this discovery is not just another transaction or addition to inventory. It serves as a poignant reminder of the deep-rooted love for baseball that transcends generations. What was once a young boy’s pride is now an enduring symbol of the timeless allure of the game and its larger-than-life heroes.
Each worn edge on these cards tells a story—not just of time’s passage, but also of an eager young fan’s adoration. They offer a glimpse into the life of a boy who idolized figures like Ruth, Jackson, Cobb, and Sisler and who, through these cards, held a piece of his heroes in his own hands. This story resonates with many collectors, for whom the value lies not so much in monetary terms but in the emotional connection, nostalgia, and love for the game.
As this remarkable collection enters the public sphere, it serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of baseball’s early legends. The excitement surrounding the discovery of such a cache of rare memorabilia can be compared to finding a hidden gem that, once polished, illuminates a bygone era of sports history. For collectors, historians, and baseball aficionados alike, the release of this century-old collection is a momentous event, connecting tangible artifacts from the past with the present-day passion for collecting.
Each card from this extraordinary find acts as a bridge across time, connecting the dots of baseball’s evolution. As the auction house meticulously processes this collection, each piece will find its way into the hands of those who not only appreciate its rarity but also recognize the remarkable journey these cards have undertaken—from the pockets of a young baseball fan in the early 20th century to a revered position in the collections of modern-day enthusiasts. These cards carry with them the essence of America’s pastime, a legacy that continues to captivate and inspire.
