Ty Cobb's 1915 Cracker Jack card will forever stand the test of time as one of the hobby’s premier pre-war issues. The lasting image of the Georgia Peach choking up and gripping his bat with hands apart in his patented style resonates with every serious baseball card collector. Of 152 graded examples in PSA’s population report, only four #30 Ty Cobbs have ever been assessed a Mint 9 rating. This is one of those on Mount Rushmore. And while its ‘OC’ qualifier might make this one the “Teddy Roosevelt” of the quad, it certainly does not change this card’s undeniable claim to fame.

The 1915 Cracker Jack set consists of 176 subjects, each card measuring 2-1/4" by 3" and printed on thinner-than-usual cardstock. The sheer delicacy of the surface makes even a mid-grade example rise above its counterparts. Inserted in boxes of the delicious molasses-covered popcorn snack and popular ballpark concession, it represents the ultimate card and candy combo of America’s pastime.

The bright red background of this near flawless example is surrounded by gleaming white borders, arrow-straight edges, and razor-sharp corners. Front and back surfaces are completely clean and stain-free with print as bold as can be. Cobb’s face, his Detroit Tigers cap and baggy uniform all display in outstanding resolution, highlighting a 1915 season at the height of his legendary career in which he won his ninth straight batting title and led the league in hits, runs and steals. The card is well-centered horizontally, but there is a vertical discrepancy that PSA believed warranted an off-center designation – rather harsh in our opinion. The consignor has owned this card for over a decade and seen it ascend from less than $20K in 2010 to well into six figures today. In 2017 and 2019 (before the COVID spike), two of the three unqualified PSA 9s sold for $432,000 and $504,000, respectively. There have been no comparable sales since.