Harry Beecher was captain of the Yale football team in the late 1880s a distant relative of Harriet Beecher Stowe. In 1887 the Yale club was undefeated Beecher played quarterback halfback and occasionally kicker. He scored 66 touchdowns in his college career a long-standing record. And he was the first player to appear on a football card - this 1888 N162 Goodwins Champions card. This example is fresh to the graded hobby having resided ungraded in the collection of a long-time hobbyist before being consigned to Love of the Game for this auction. We literally received the card less than a month ago long after the consignment deadline submitted it to SGC on a rush to get it into this catalog at the absolute last minute. We're thrilled to offer it. It is a beautiful card technically meeting the standards of a VG+ grade but presenting far nicer with excellent centering lightly-rounded corners and rich color and image clarity. The reverse exhibits some minor soiling with a bit of chipping along the bottom edge. An extremely attractive specimen the oldest football card known fresh to the hobby after being stored away in a long-time collection for decades.