1887 Detroit Wolverines Baseball Currency in Gorgeous Complete Condition

• Sold For: $1,998
• Year: 1887
• Auction: 2012 September
• Lot #: 2
• Auction Category: Pre-1900 Baseball Memorabilia

The National League Champion Detroit Wolverines earned a decisive victory over the American Association Champion St. Louis Browns by winning ten of fifteen games in a series of contests for the “Supremacy of the Baseball World” in 1887. Seeking to cash in on the Wolverines notoriety various retailers issued store trade currency coupons featuring images of the Detroit team members. Presented is a gorgeous currency note redeemable for 5% in cash payment at the C. Howe Dry Goods Store in Pomona, CA. This rare early Baseball collectible, possibly the finest surviving specimen, displays in excellent condition with crisp feel, vivid colors and distinct graphics and is minimally affected by three light vertical folds, a few pinholes, several small stains and some barely perceptible edge tears. The extremely handsome obverse features the title “National Base Ball Season of 1887” with engraving style images of Detroit Manager Watkins on the left and HOF batsman Thompson on the right. The reverse features a composite team woodcut with portraits of (12) Wolverine team members including clockwise players Hanlon, Brouthers, White, Briody, Bennett, Baldwin, Richardson, Thompson, Ganzel, Weidman, Rowe and Dunlop. More on our website. Three of the players shown, Brouthers, Hanlon and Thompson are Hall of Famers. Also included are photos of the Pomona Dry Goods store which issued the presented piece of baseball currency. These are modern photos which appear to have been produced from antique stereoscope images.