Final prices are in today from Hake’s Americana & Collectibles sale No. 201 and the results are very impressive.
Selling for
$22,137.50 (including 15% Buyer’s Premium) is this rare 3 1/2 inch by 5
3/8 inch postcard depicting 12 players in uniform from the Leland
Giants.
Background: Frank Leland combined the “Chicago Unions” with the Chicago
Union Giants (1901-1904) and in 1905 they were re-named the Leland
Giants. Rube Foster joined the Giants in 1907, leading them to a 110-10
record including 48 straight wins. In 1909 the Giants entered the tough
integrated city league. In Foster’s first 11 stars he won 11 games with 4
shut-outs. By 1910 the Giants were the talk of the Midwest but Foster
and Leland parted ways with Foster retaining legal rights to the Lelands
Giants name. Foster chose to re-name the team “American Giants” for the
1911 season while Lelands’ new team was named the Chicago Giants. Rube
Foster is shown on the back row at far right.
