Beautiful example of Hall of Fame pitcher "Smiling" Mickey Welch (identified only as "Smiling Mickey" on this 1887 example). Just the third pitcher in baseball history to amass 300 wins, Welch was elected to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1973, his 307-210 record impossible to deny. His .800 winning percentage in 1885 was the result of a 44-11 record, his 1.66 ERA in 492 innings simply an amazing athletic feat regardless of era. This is an exceptional example of the card, with a sharp, well-defined image unusual for a card often found considerably faded. The contrast is outstanding, one of the finer examples of this pose we have seen. A script version of the card with a white printing variation, this is one of the first N172 Old Judge cards produced, possibly as early as late 1886. A key card of an important 19th Century Hall of Famer.