Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night event is gearing up to showcase an extraordinary piece of baseball history: a poster from the 1888-89 Spalding Australian Baseball Tour. This rare artifact, one of only two known surviving posters, represents a significant chapter in the sport’s history. The tour, organized by baseball legend Albert G. Spalding, featured games between the Chicago White Stockings and an All America team handpicked by Spalding himself.
Scheduled for February 24-25, the Platinum Night auction boasts nearly 2,800 items, ranging from vintage Old Judge cards to modern baseball memorabilia. However, the highlight of the event is undoubtedly the 1888-89 baseball tour poster, considered a key lot due to its rarity and historical significance. The fact that the other known copy of this poster resides in the Baseball Hall of Fame only reinforces its importance.
Measuring an impressive 42 inches by 28 inches, the poster has been dubbed by Heritage Auctions as “the most astonishing eight square feet of paper” ever presented in their auctions. It features images evocative of the famous Old Judge and N284 Buchner Gold Coin cards, showcasing the players who participated in the tour. Among the depicted stars are future Hall of Famers Cap Anson, John Montgomery Ward, and Ned Hanlon.
Spalding’s ambitious venture aimed to promote baseball on a global scale. The tour took the teams across multiple countries, including the Sandwich Islands (now Hawaii), New Zealand, Ceylon, Egypt, Italy, France, and England, before concluding with games in Australian cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Ballarat. This logistical accomplishment required Spalding to invest $30,000 of his own money and obtain an endorsement from President Grover Cleveland.
The promotion not only showcased the sport’s allure but also emphasized its status as America’s game. The tour garnered substantial attention and ended with a celebratory banquet at Delmonico’s restaurant in New York City upon the teams’ triumphant return.
Beyond its historical value, the poster provides insight into the early professionalization of baseball and its efforts to captivate a global audience. With a pre-sale estimate of $100,000, it presents a unique opportunity for collectors to own a tangible piece of the sport’s storied past.
Heritage Auctions’ Platinum Night sale is expected to draw avid collectors and enthusiasts alike, eager to bid on this rare 1888-89 baseball tour poster. The auction presents an extraordinary chance to acquire a significant artifact linked to the pioneering days of America’s favorite pastime. Whether it finds a home in a private collection or a public institution, this piece of baseball history is sure to captivate and inspire for generations to come.