The 1940 Playball set is noted for having both contemporary players and long retired greats of the game. The middle grade selection of almost all different (just one duplicate) includes: #'s 2, 4, 7 Dickey (EX), 8, 10 Ruffing (VG), 12, 14 (2), 16, 18, 20 (2), 22 (4), 24, 27 Williams (EX), 29, 33, 34 (2) 44 Trout (VG/EX), 56, 64 (2), 68 (4), 72 (2), 74 Derringer (EX), 77, 78, 79, 82, 83, 84 (2), 90 (2), 94 (2), 114, 119 Cleveland (VG/EX), 130, 133 Foxx (VG/EX), 134 Cronin (VG/EX), 138, 142, 145 (2), 149 (2), 156, 159, 160, 164, 168 Wagner (2: VG, GD), 175 Mathewson (VG), 179 Sisler (2: EX, VG/EX). Grades overall 41% EX to EX/MT, 51% VG to VG/EX and 8% lesser.

In Philadelphia, during the dead-ball era, Rube Oldring was a name known by all. He was a star player for the 1911 and 1913 World Champion Philadelphia Athletics. Both of those Championships are represented here in fine splendor. Even though he was never considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame, Oldring was a reliable and gritty player for Connie Mack’s A’s dynasty. After spending 14 years in the major leagues, Rube went on playing for and managing the Wilson team of the Virginia League to a Championship Pennant. Let us not forget that this is a time period when baseball players had to work during the winter months to provide for their families. Rube was no different as he worked long hours to provide and played as hard as humanly possible because he loved the game of baseball. After retirement from the game, he began farming for a living and spent his entire life in his native, Bridgeton, New Jersey. The relics and treasures presented here have remained in the Olding family until this day. This is the first family-authorized sale of any of the Oldring family’s belongings. Each lot will come with a letter from the family.