Ultra-Rare Jesse Burkett Signed Black and White HOF Plaque Postcard (PSA/DNA MINT 9) - 1 of 3 Known

• Sold For: $40,800
• Year: -
• Auction: 2017 May
• Lot #: 2
• Auction Category: Autographed Baseballs/Flats/Photos

Think Ty Cobb was a mean SOB? The Georgia Peach had nothing on The Crab—Jesse Burkett. His tongue was as lethal as his fists. His venomous, expletive-laden tirades (primarily directly at umpires and fans) were unfit for publication. And if there"s one thing that stoked his fury most of all, it was (go figure) any hint of comparison to fellow Wheeling native Jack Glasscock. Burkett even made his mark as the first player in history to be ejected from BOTH games of a doubleheader. (Only a handful of players have since followed suit.) Maybe it was his irascible nature and aggressive behavior that made him such a tough autograph in his day—not to mention a pariah to the Hall of Fame committee, who finally got around to granting him a Cooperstown plaque in 1946. This, despite being a lifetime .338 batter, two-time .400 hitter, perennial walk leader and one of the greatest bunters the game has ever known. In the brief window between his induction and his 1953 death, Burkett is thought to have only signed a mere three plaque postcards. One of the two predecessors reached auction in 2007 and shattered records at $38,000. This equally impressive if not superior example is a 1946-52 Albertype featuring a gorgeous MINT 9 signature and overall VG-EX condition. A perhaps once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for any advanced collector of signed plaque postcards—above all, for those brave souls dreaming to assemble a complete set! This item has a reserve (estimated value $20,000-$30,000).