Catcher and Outfielder Bart Cantz played in 32 games for the St. Louis Whites of the Western Association in 1888 before signing to play with the Major League's Baltimore Orioles of the American Association for the remainder of that year and 1889. Despite his brief stint with the team, Cantz has five different
cards in
the N172 set. This
issue depicts him as a catcher, wearing his mask behind home plate as he stands, posing as if having just received a ball in his outstretched hands.
It is truly a miracle how any player could have withstood the brutality that is the catching position wearing such antiquated protective gear, but that is one of the things which makes this card great. An up close and personal look at the tools of ignorance, as they were worn 135 years ago. An uneven top border gives the perception of diamond cutting at first glance, but it appears as if the top printed border of the image is actually slanted and the card was cut parallel to that line. While the image is slightly faded, it is still absolutely visible and the text is legible. One of just four examples of this card to be graded by PSA.