Rare 1888-89 Baseball Tour Poster Up for Auction

Heritage Auctions is gearing up for its highly anticipated Platinum Night event, where a truly extraordinary piece of baseball history will take center stage. Among the nearly 2,800 items up for auction is a poster from the 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour, a rare artifact that marks a significant chapter in the sport’s history.

This particular poster is one of only two known surviving copies, with the other firmly housed in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Its presence in this auction highlights its extreme rarity and historical significance.

Measuring an impressive 42 inches by 28 inches, the Heritage Auctions team describes this poster as “the most astonishing eight square feet of paper” to ever grace their auctions. It showcases images reminiscent of those found on the beloved Old Judge and N284 Buchner Gold Coin baseball cards. Notable players featured in the poster include future Hall of Famers such as Cap Anson, John Montgomery Ward, and Ned Hanlon.

The 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour was a pioneering venture led by baseball legend Albert G. Spalding, also known as a prominent sporting goods tycoon. This barnstorming tour occurred immediately after the 1888 season and pitted the Chicago White Stockings against an All America team put together by none other than Spalding himself.

The tour was a part of Spalding’s larger vision to promote baseball on a global scale. It took the teams through various countries and territories, including stops in the Sandwich Islands (now known as Hawaii), New Zealand, Ceylon, Egypt, Italy, France, and England. The tour concluded in Australian cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Ballarat. This ambitious undertaking required significant logistical planning and included an investment of $30,000 from Spalding’s own pocket. Notably, the tour was endorsed by none other than President Grover Cleveland, further solidifying baseball’s status as America’s game.

The journey attracted immense attention, not only showcasing the appeal of baseball but also its potential as a global sport. Upon the team’s return, a celebratory banquet was held at Delmonico’s restaurant in New York City, cementing the success of the tour.

Beyond its historical significance, this poster offers a unique glimpse into the early professionalization of baseball and the sport’s efforts to captivate a global audience. The fact that it survived all these years and is now up for auction presents an exciting opportunity for collectors to own a prized piece of baseball’s storied past.

With a pre-sale estimate of $100,000, this rare 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour poster is set to make waves at Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night event. Baseball enthusiasts and collectors alike eagerly await the chance to bid on this captivating piece of sporting history.

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