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1889 The Champion Game Brouthers

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1889 The Champion Game with Brouthers and Clarkson

This extremely rare early baseball game is especially prized by collectors as the cover features large full-color portraits of Hall of Famers Dan Brouthers and John Clarkson. It is also one of the very few games of the era featuring actual likenesses of any ballplayers, let alone such prominent stars. The cover identifies Brouthers as "Champion Batter of the World," and Clarkson as "Champion Pitcher of the World." The set includes the colorful game board with two spinners and six original wooden game pieces. The directions to the game appear on the underside of the lid. We believe there are no more than five or six examples of this significant rarity known to exist, and because of the delicate nature of the box, all have different condition problems. The top of the box of the offered example exhibits some general wear, but the all-important cover label is complete and intact. There is some loss of cardboard to the two sides of the lid forming the upper left corner, not affecting the top of the box. This could easily be repaired, if desired (it has thus far received no restoration), but the box closes with integrity and displays beautifully as is. There is some pencil scribbling to the underside of the lid and a few pencil marks to the game board as well. Despite condition faults, still a very important rarity with tremendous display value, and an impressive addition to any early baseball game or nineteenth-century baseball collection. Overall in Good to Very Good condition.Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$2,000.

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