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Historic "Set" of 6 Troy Haymakers, circa late 1860's - the first player baseball cards.
Lot 1. Historic "Set" of 6 Troy Haymakers, circa late 1860's - the first player baseball cards. This landmark set is the earliest known group of cards portraying players from a team, easily pre-dating the 1872 Boston team and are the only- pre National Association player cards known. Almost assuredly one-of-a-kind, the cards represent players from the Unions of Lansingburgh (also known as the Haymakers). The data available on some of the players date the cards as being as late as 1870 but possibly as early as 1867. The players are identified on the back of the CDV's and three are known players and three are not. The known players are the infamous Bill Craven, Mike McAtee and Stephen King. The others are Thomas Abrams, Peter McKeon and Anthony McQuide. Craven is the "star" of the group. He hit .322 for Troy in 1872 and seemed to play for a new team every year. In 1877, while playing for Louisville of the National League, he and some teammates were banned for life for throwing games in the 1877 pennant race. King played for Troy in both 1871 and 1872 and McAtee played with Chicago in 1871 and Troy in 1872. Box scores have been found in the 1867 N.Y. Clipper (see Lot 25 below) which include 5 of the six players. Only McQuide seems to be a mystery. The group of six was discovered in 2001 on ebay and an extensive SCD article was written by Bob Lemke in that year (copy included). The set was auctioned later that year in a small auction and realized $12,000. All the photos are excellent and better with strong contrast. The backs have the players last name hand written at the top and advertising for the Lansingburgh, N.Y. photographer. The Craven card has a light horizontal crease.
Winning Bid $25,941.
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