Lot # 76: Extremely Rare 1891 John H. Ryder Cabinet George Davis Rookie PSA GOOD 2

Extremely rare cabinet photograph capturing Hall of Famer George Davis in a formal studio portrait pose as a member of the 1891 Cleveland Spiders. This cabinet represents Davis' rookie appearance and is the earliest George Davis baseball item we have ever handled. Baseball cabinets from the 19th century are extremely desirable, especially those of prominent Hall of Famers such as Davis. The photographer's credit, "John H. Ryder - Cleveland, Ohio," appears both on the base of the mount and reverse. Davis, who was just 19 years old at the time, made his Major League debut in 1890. The Spiders signed him that spring to help fill their roster after losing a number of players to the upstart Player's League. An infielder for most of his career, Davis played center field for the club during his rookie campaign, finishing the year with six home runs, 73 RBI, and a .264 average. In 1893, he was traded to the Giants for another future Hall of Famer, catcher Buck Ewing. It was during his nine seasons with the Giants that Davis enjoyed his greatest success, batting over .300 each year, including a career-high .355 in 1893. He retired in 1909 with a .295 career average and 1,440 RBI but wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame until 1998. Graded GOOD 2 by PSA, the cabinet card (4.25 x 6.5 inches) has a strip of paper remnants along the top reverse border resulting from its removal from the album, as well as minor edge and corner wear. It presents with exceptional photo clarity and would be a worthy addition to even the most advanced 19th century card or Hall of Fame rookie collection.