2014 will mark the 100th anniversary of the landmark E145 Cracker Jack set. One of the most beautiful card issues ever released the Cracker Jack cards - and the product - have captured the imagination of the hobby for a century. Likely the most popular and highly desirable of all the caramel issues - and one of the most popular prewar sets in general the cards feature 144 of the game"s biggest stars presented on bold red cards printed on lightweight cream-colored stock.Cards from the 1914 issue are difficult to find and incredibly condition-sensitive due to the flimsy paper on which they were printed as well as the fact that the cards were inserted into boxes of Cracker Jacks. Obviously this put the cards in close proximity to the product leaving them susceptible to caramel staining - a fact of life with Cracker Jacks. For this reason only four current complete graded sets exist on the PSA and SGC registries combined.We are pleased to be offering a near-set of 1914 Cracker Jacks ranked #4 on the PSA Set Registry. The set will be offered as a complete near set and as individual lots. When the auction closes the higher of the two - either the winning bid on this lot (the complete near-set) or the cumulative total of the individual lots (lots 171-213) will be awarded the spoils. Collection of five turn-of-the-century stars none of whom are Hall of Famers but still were popular and talented players who still have significant collector demand two of which are associated with the Black Sox scandal of 1919. Each of the cards is graded POOR 1 by PSA except for card #79 of Ping Bodie which has been graded FAIR 1.5. All exhibit flaws consistent with their grade. The collection is highlighted by two members of the 1919 White Sox Card #39 of Chick Gandil and card # 94 of Ed Cicotte. The collection also includes card #48 of Harry Lord and card #134 of Armando Marsans. Despite the grades there are gems in this lot. Five cards total.