Latin American issues are seeing a bit of a rise in popularity as
collectors realize their scarcity and wide-ranging array of subjects. Issued during the Puerto Rican Winter League season of 1950-51 and sold in packs, this Toleteros series consists of 178
cards each measuring 1-3/4” by 2-1/2”. Each card front features a color
player image with a large white border area and his name in black print
along the bottom edge, while the backs are blank. Renowned for its exquisite
photography, this Toleteros offering hosts various Negro League stars
and Major League players.
Willard Brown was a centerpiece of the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues during the 1930s and
1940s, but he dominated the Puerto Rican
League where he is widely considered one of the greatest players in the history
of the league. The card is centered slightly left, and exhibits some light diamond cutting with a soft bottom left corner and a small smudge near his last name on the front. Only three cards have ever achieved a higher grade through SGC, which deemed
this example a 60 EX 5, and only three examples of this card have ever been
graded by PSA at all.