1933 PHILADELPHIA STARS TEAM PHOTO POSTCARD WITH HOF'ERS BIZ MACKEY & JUD WILSON SGC 20 FAIR 1.5.
Item Description
Offered here is one of only two known examples depicting seventeen members of the 1933 Philadelphia Stars Baseball Club posing together on a panorama-style postcard, including Cooperstown Hall of Famers Biz Mackey and Jud Wilson. 3.5x5.5". Printing on the top border reads "Ed. Bolden's Phila. Stars" and each player is identified at the bottom of the photo: Jake Stephens, Herb Smith, Mickey Casey, Jud Wilson (HOF), Pete Washington, Clifford Allen, Porter Charleston, Biz Mackey (HOF), Ed Bolden (Mgr.), Paul Carter, Rap Dixon, Dick Lundy, Chaney White, Eggie Dallard, Cliff Carter, Webster McDonald, and Tom Finley. The year "1933" is written in vintage black fountain pen along the base of the front, meaning that this photo pictures the ball club during its inaugural 1933 season, making it perhaps the most historically significant Philadelphia Stars image in existence. In addition to former Negro League greats, Biz Mackey and Jud Wilson (already National Baseball Hall of Fame members since 2006), Manager Bolden is widely regarded as the most likely Negro League Executive for enshrinement the next time former Negro League greats are evaluated. Bolden, who had previously guided the Hilldale Daisies to three consecutive Eastern Colored League Championships during the mid-1920s, founded the Philadelphia Stars in 1933. The team played one season as an independent club before joining the Negro National League in 1934. Success came early for the Stars, as the club defeated the Chicago American Giants to win the Negro National League pennant in 1934. Unfortunately, it also marked the final pennant for Bolden's club, which remained a member of the Negro National League until the League's collapse in 1948. The Stars continued play for the next two years as a member of the Negro American League before disbanding after the 1950 season. Further enhancing the desirability of this postcard is the inclusion of Dick Lundy and Rap Dixon, again, a pair of former greats who are definitely on the short list of top candidates for future Hall of Fame membership. Lundy was widely regarded as the best shortstop in the Negro Leagues during the 1920s, starring primarily for the Atlantic City Bacharach Giants. Rap Dixon, on the other hand, was one of the few great 5-tool players during the heyday of the Negro Leagues, starring for the Chicago American Giants during the 1920s. As previously stated, this postcard represents one of only two known examples and exhibits some adhesive residue and minor surface paper loss on the back, likely from being removed from a scrapbook. Otherwise, card exhibits no other condition issues other than minor corner wear. Postcard has been professionally graded by Sportscard Guaranty Company and received a numerical grade of 20 - Fair, which was a result of the lt. residue on the back and the "1933" date handwritten in ink on the front. While technically accurate, we do not believe that the assigned grade represents the card's outstanding presentation. This specific example has sold at public auction twice previously, garnering a final price tag of $5,333 in 2014 and $5,875 in 2011.
