1896-97 PAGE FENCE GIANTS TRADE CARD WITH GRANT JOHNSON & CHARLES GRANT SGC VG 3.
Item Description
Presented here is the earliest known baseball card, in advertising trade card format, depicting a black baseball team, the 1896-97 Page Fence Giants ball club, highlighted by the presence of future National Baseball Hall of Fame candidates, Grant "Home Run" Johnson and Charles Grant. All other team members are identified under the image: George Taylor, George Wilson, Joe Miller, Billy Holland, A.S. Parsons (Manager), Pete Burns, Fred Van Dyke, William Binga & Vasco Graham. Page Woven Wire Fence Company advertising adorns the back of the sturdy card stock card that measures 3.5x4.5".
The Page Fence Giants were around for just four seasons from 1895-98, taking their name from the team sponsor, the Page Woven Wire Fence Company of Adrian, Michigan, founded by J. Wallace Page. Bud Fowler & Grant Johnson formed the team in 1895, assigning Gus Parsons the managerial duties. During their initial season of 1895, the Giants played in 112 towns, finishing with a record of 118-36-2. In 1896, the Page Fence Giants beat the Cuban X-Giants in a 15-game series, 10 games to 5, to claim they were the top team in black baseball, going 80-19 overall. Finishing with a record of 125-12 in 1897, including an astounding total of 82 consecutive wins, the club secured their place in history as the dominant black baseball club at the close of the 19th Century.
Much of their success was due to the middle infield combo of shortstop, Grant "Home Run" Johnson and second baseman, Charles Grant. Grant Johnson established himself, prior to the turn of the century, as the preeminent shortstop in black baseball. Johnson was most famous for his role as a founding member of the 1894 Findlay Sluggers under Negro League pioneer Bud Fowler. Widely regarded as the second greatest second baseman in black baseball history after Frank Grant, Charles Grant had a light enough complexion to pass for Native American. Using the name "Tokohama," Grant was very close to signing a professional contract with the 1901 Baltimore Orioles as a Native American which would have made manager John McGraw the "Branch Rickey" of his age. The plan failed and Grant was banned from "white" professional baseball. This bitter episode motivated other black teams to form during the early 20th century.
Shows typical light wear as allowed for the SGC grade of 40 VG 3. Both sides display very nicely.
With only a half-dozen or so copies known to exist, this beauty is one of only three encapsulated by SGC, with only one example achieving a single grade higher. Don't pass up this opportunity to pick up a Negro League treasure that transcends card collecting, appealing not only to the 19th Century baseball memorabilia enthusiast but also the most discriminating black baseball collectors as well. The Black Ball Collection.
