Heritage Auctions, a leading auction house, is gearing up for its upcoming Platinum Night event, which promises to be a treasure trove for baseball enthusiasts. One of the most notable items set to be featured is a poster from the iconic 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour. This artifact holds great historical significance, as it represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of the sport.
The 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour was a groundbreaking undertaking led by Albert G. Spalding, a renowned baseball legend and the founder of Spalding sporting goods company. The tour featured games between the Chicago White Stockings and an All America team handpicked by Spalding himself. It took place after the conclusion of the 1888 season and aimed to promote baseball globally.
The poster in question is one of only two known surviving copies, with the other residing in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Measuring an impressive 42 inches by 28 inches, it is heralded by Heritage Auctions as “the most astonishing eight square feet of paper” ever presented in their auctions. Adorned with images reminiscent of the popular Old Judge and N284 Buchner Gold Coin cards, the poster showcases players who participated in the tour, including renowned Hall of Famers such as Cap Anson, John Montgomery Ward, and Ned Hanlon.
The Spalding Australian Baseball Tour was a grand adventure that took the teams through various countries and continents. It started in the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii) and continued on to New Zealand, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Egypt, Italy, France, and England. The tour concluded with games held in major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Ballarat. This ambitious venture required significant logistical planning and was a testament to Spalding’s commitment to promoting baseball as a global sport.
President Grover Cleveland himself endorsed the tour, adding to its prestige and significance. Spalding invested a substantial amount of his own money, a whopping $30,000, into this promotional effort. The tour received tremendous attention and, upon the teams’ return, was celebrated with a grand banquet at the esteemed Delmonico’s restaurant in New York City. This tour not only showcased the appeal of baseball but also solidified its status as America’s game.
Beyond its historical value, the poster also represents an important milestone in the professionalization of baseball and its efforts to reach a wider global audience. The pre-sale estimate for this rare artifact is set at $100,000, making it a unique and highly sought-after item for collectors and enthusiasts alike. Owning this piece of baseball history would truly be a remarkable opportunity to own a tangible link to the sport’s storied past.
Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night event, scheduled for February 24-25, promises to be a captivating showcase of nearly 2,800 items, ranging from vintage Old Judge cards to modern day baseball sensations like Aaron Judge. However, the true standout among these treasures is undoubtedly the rare 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour poster. Baseball aficionados and collectors should mark their calendars for this exciting auction, as this extraordinary artifact will surely generate significant interest and competition among bidders.
In summary, the upcoming Platinum Night Sale by Heritage Auctions offers a remarkable opportunity to acquire a piece of baseball history with the rare 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour poster. This unique artifact, one of only two known surviving copies, showcases iconic players and represents a pivotal moment in the sport’s evolution. With its pre-sale estimate of $100,000, this poster is sure to be a highly coveted item among collectors and enthusiasts.