A rare catcher-turned-outfielder, Hotaling appears here in a clean studio portrait with above-average contrast and tone. Nicknamed "Monkey" for his agility behind the plate, Hotaling would earn plenty of travel points in today's game, as he moved between franchises and leagues on a regular basis, rarely staying in one place for a second season. He "settled down" in a sense when this card came out, closing out his major league career with two years for the Cleveland Blues, 1887-88.

The SGC VG+ 3.5 grade reflects notable corner wear and slanted corners, yet retains enough image clarity that those details do little to spoil its overall impact as presented and encapsulated. Its population report shows just two graded by SGC, with none higher!

This card appears as #236-3's reference image on page 273 of the Old Judge photography book by Miller, Gonsowski, and Masson. Love of the Game is proud to offer several cards seen in their outstanding work of research and presentation as part of our 100+ N172 listings in this auction.