Lot # 621: Extremely Rare 1916 M101-4 Altoona Tribune #13 Chief Bender SGC EX 5 - The Only Graded Example!

Graded EX 5 by SGC. This is the only example that has been graded by SGC or PSA! Outstanding mid-grade example of Hall of Fame pitcher Chief Bender from the 1916 M101-4 set featuring the exceedingly rare Altoona Tribune advertising reverse. It is interesting to note that although Bender is identified with the Philadelphia Phillies on this card, he is pictured wearing his Philadelphia Athletics uniform from the 1914 season. M101-4 (and the closely related M101-5) set is commonly referred to as Sporting News (in honor of its most prominent sponsor), but cards were actually issued with a variety of advertising backs as well as with blank backs. To date, SGC and PSA have combined to grade only 72 examples featuring an Altoona Tribune back (of all players). While exact population numbers for ungraded examples cannot be known, hobby scholars Tim Newcomb and Todd Schultz have conducted extensive research into the M101-4/5 sets and their advertising backs (http://www.oldcardboard.com/m/m101-4/m101pop.asp). They estimate that Altoona Tribune cards are among the most difficult to find (along with Ware's Basement, Burgess-Nash, and Mall Theatre) and account for less than 1% of the entire M101-4/5 production run of all back varieties (Altoona Tribune has been confirmed to appear only on M101-4 cards). The offered card is an extremely attractive example, with a crisp image, outstanding contrast, light corner wear, and impressive centering. The reverse advertisement for Altoona Tribune is bold and crisp. This is a striking example of Chief Bender featuring an ultra-rare back advertisement from one of the most important baseball-card issues of the era. A worthy addition to even the most advanced Chief Bender, Hall of Fame, or type-card collection!