Lot # 589: 1973 Venezuelan Winter League Stickers #78 Jim Rice (HOF RC) - PSA GOOD 2

Category: 1949-Present

Starting Bid: $200.00

Bids: 9 (Bid History)

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2 1/2" x 3 1/2" colorful sticker, intended to be mounted in an album that was also issued. The stickers are typically found in low grade, often damaged, and virtually always having been removed from the album itself. The stickers are incredibly rare; despite a reported checklist of 275 cards, many are unknown or have yet to be discovered. Indeed, PSA has graded just 43 examples from the entire set as of this writing, they have seen just 20 different cards from the issue; SGC has graded just 7 examples of three different cards.

Presented here is the card of Jim Rice. Issued a year before his debut and two years before his rookie card, Rice is pictured with the Navegantes del Magellanes of the Venezuelan League. Rice would, of course, make his debut in 1974, finishing second in the 1975 Rookie of the Year race (behind his teammate Fred Lynn) and third in the MVP voting (behind Lynn and John Mayberry).  Graded GOOD 2 by PSA, the sticker appears far stronger, some very small surface abrasions and light discoloration at the top edge the main technical issues with the front. The reverse tells a different story; having been mounted in an album, paper remnants and glue stains remain, perhaps some slight paper loss can also be observed. These flaws are typical with the issue, however, and this is an outstanding example, a pre-rookie card of a future Hall of Famer.