Set of the Week: n184 Kimball Champions

We are going to start up a new feature called the Set of the Week. It will highlight a set that normally doesn't get a lot of attention. This will also be a chance for you to show any cards you might have from these sets. If you have ideas for a set to be featured or want to do a write up for a set that you are familiar with, feel free to do so. Just PM me that you have a set you want to feature and I will hold off doing one that week.

I thought I would start off with n184 Kimball Champions set. I had bought some of the new 2011 Topps cards to cure that pack opening craving. One of the chase sets is a Kimballs tribute so I figured I would start with that set.

WS Kimball issued a set of 50 cards featuring various sporting champions. Four of these cards feature baseball players Tip O'Niel, E A Burch, Dell Darling and Hardie Henderson. The cards are approximately 1.5" x 2.75" with a color portrait at the top of the card and an action scene below that. The back of the card has a checklist of all 50 cards in the set. There was also a string bound album issued that is quite scarce.

Possibly the most difficult card in the set to find is that of jockey Issac Murphy. He is listed as Champion Colored Jockey making him the first Black athlete to be featured on a card. Speculation as to why the card is so tough is that people tossed the card when they realized they got a card of a Black person.

Some of the sports featured are quite humorous. You have Boy Boxer, Cannon Ball Catcher, Checker Player, Fancy Skater, Live Pigeon Shot and Water Queen. There is also a Hardball champion. This is not a baseball player as we know it. Other athletes of note in set are Annie Oakley and John L Sullivan.

While the cards are printed in the four stone lithograph style of the day, the colors are not as bright and vivid as those you seen on the contemporary n162 Goodwin Champions cards. This, along with player selection (Tip O'Niel being the only recognizable name to casual 19c fans) probably account for the lack of interest in these cards.

For those interested in what N184s were packaged in...

Thanks Jon, I totally forgot about packaging.

Do we have any idea how you were able to obtain the album? Did they have coupons?

Lee

I would assume it is a coupon. As far as I know, all premiums back then were obtained by collecting coupons.

Anyone happen to have a scan on the poster?

I don't own any n184's...but I do have a buchner gold coin isaac murphy and I'd guess that card is tough for the same reason!

Got a scan? I've never seen it.

scans via Pete



This looks a lot better than any of the baseball players. Although Kelly playing the air guitar is pretty cool.

I seem to be having issues with this site today...I can't post scans...and I can't see them either?!

Not sure what's up with not being able to see scans, but I have that problem once in awhile with certain scans, like that amazing scroll. The porter was kind enough to email me the scans so I could see them.

great set, and I am definitely glad to see it's back in the public eye because of 2011 Topps.

My dirty Kimball:



Lee

But it's a darling card.