Lot # 2971: 1929 R316 Kashin Publications Jesse Haines SGC VG/EX+ 4.5 - Key Rarity!

Graded VG/EX+ 4.5 by SGC. Only one example has been graded higher by SGC to date. Outstanding mid-grade example of St. Louis Cardinals Jesse Haines, one of the key rarities from the 1929 R316 Kashin Publication series. Haines is one of several extremely rare cards in the R316 set. When the R316 set was issued, they were sold in four series (25 cards per box, each box representing one of four series, for a total of 100 cards). In an effort to boost sales, the company issuing the set, Kashin Publications, decided they could get kids more excited by including a Babe Ruth card with each boxed series. To do this, instead of just adding an extra card, they replaced one card in each series with Ruth. While Ruth is the key card to the set, like card #144 Ruth in 1933 Goudey, it was actually printed in larger numbers than other cards in the set. Haines was one of the cards removed from distribution to accommodate "the Ruth sales strategy," making this card one of the true rarities of the R316 set. The offered card has superb image clarity and honest corner wear. The blank reverse is clean. A tremendous example of this R316 rarity.