Step right up, sports enthusiasts and comic book aficionados! There’s a treasure trove on the auction block that’s sure to pique your interest—and all for a noble cause. The Paul McInnis Auction house in North Hampton, New Hampshire, is setting the stage for an extraordinary event that blends the love of baseball with the spirit of giving. The Harry W. O’Brien Collection, an extensive assembly of pre-war baseball memorabilia and vintage comics, is being offered up to the highest bidder to benefit the University of New Hampshire Scholarship Fund.
Harry W. O’Brien’s legacy is a collector’s dream, painstakingly curated by his father, Daniel, who collected these gems while serving in both world wars. This nostalgic journey through baseball’s golden age features an impressive lineup of memorabilia that includes 300 T206 tobacco cards, which showcase 48 Hall of Famers. Imagine owning a piece of history with cards of legends like Christie Mathewson and Cy Young!
The collection doesn’t stop there. It’s home to a complete set of 1911 T201 Mecca Double Folders and 80 Goudey cards from the 1930s, spotlighting icons such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Dive deeper and you’ll find Philadelphia Caramels cards, 19 4-in-1 Exhibit cards that again feature Ruth and Gehrig, and a selection from the rare 1930’s George C Miller issue, making it a comprehensive snapshot of early 20th-century sports history.
But wait, there’s more! For the boxing aficionados, the auction also includes 1910 T218 Mecca boxing cards with the legendary heavyweight Jack Johnson. And for those whose tastes lie beyond the diamond and the ring, there’s a fascinating assortment of vintage non-sports cards awaiting your bids.
Collector or not, the quality of these items is undeniable. According to Paul McInnis, the appeal of this auction lies in the “rarity, age, and pristine condition” of the offerings. Many items have been professionally graded by SGC and will be available for individual or lot purchase. To add a sprinkle of excitement for comic book lovers, the auction will also include high-grade 1940s comics featuring none other than Superman and Batman.
And if the memorabilia itself weren’t enough to draw crowds, perhaps the chance to own a rare ticket stub from the inaugural game at Fenway Park in 1912 will be the clincher. With such a broad array of over 500 lots on offer, this event is more than an auction; it’s an exhibition of cultural and historical proportions.
Anticipation for this event is already building with pre-bidding open. The main attraction, a live virtual webcast, will occur on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 11:00 AM, hosted right on the Paul McInnis website. Whether you’re there to snag a piece of history or simply to witness the auction of some of the rarest memorabilia around, the excitement is sure to be palpable. More importantly, every bid placed is a step towards helping a student achieve their dreams through the University of New Hampshire Scholarship Fund. It’s an opportunity to own a piece of the past and invest in the future simultaneously.
Mark your calendars and ready your bidding paddles, for this is not just an auction—it’s a celebration of history, heroes, and higher education.
