Heritage Auctions’ much-anticipated Platinum Night event is on the horizon, and nestled amongst the nearly 2,800 items up for auction is a truly extraordinary piece of baseball history. The star of the show is a poster from the 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour, one of only two known surviving copies. This rare artifact tells the story of a pioneering tour led by the legendary Albert G. Spalding, showcasing the Chicago White Stockings and an All America team handpicked by Spalding himself after the 1888 season.
With a range of items spanning from the era of Old Judge cards to the modern exploits of players like Aaron Judge, this auction is a collector’s dream. However, it is the Spalding Australian Baseball Tour poster that truly stands out, capturing the attention of baseball enthusiasts and historians alike. The rarity and historical significance of this piece are underscored by the fact that the other known copy resides in the prestigious Baseball Hall of Fame.
Measuring an impressive 42 inches by 28 inches, this poster has been hailed by Heritage Auctions as “the most astonishing eight square feet of paper” ever presented in their auctions. Resembling the iconic imagery found on Old Judge and N284 Buchner Gold Coin cards, the poster showcases the players who participated in the tour, including future Hall of Famers such as Cap Anson, John Montgomery Ward, and Ned Hanlon.
The Spalding Australian Baseball Tour was a visionary endeavor initiated by Albert G. Spalding to promote the sport on a global scale. This ambitious journey took the Chicago White Stockings and the All America team through various locations, including the Sandwich Islands (now known as Hawaii), New Zealand, Ceylon, Egypt, Italy, France, and England. The tour concluded with games in major Australian cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Ballarat. The logistics of the tour were immense, with Spalding investing a significant sum of $30,000 of his own money and securing the endorsement of President Grover Cleveland.
Beyond its historical value, the poster offers a captivating glimpse into the early stages of professionalization in baseball, as well as the sport’s efforts to attract a global audience. It serves as a testament to baseball’s appeal as America’s game and the significant attention garnered during the tour. The journey culminated in a celebratory banquet at Delmonico’s restaurant in New York City upon the teams’ triumphant return.
This rare 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour poster, with a pre-sale estimate of $100,000, presents a unique opportunity for collectors to own a captivating piece of baseball’s storied past. Its historical significance, combined with its scarcity, make it a highly coveted artifact within the baseball community. As Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night approaches, baseball enthusiasts and collectors eagerly await the chance to bid on this remarkable piece of sporting history.
