Hake’s Rolling Up Some Nice Cuban Cards

When it comes to sports auction houses, you don't often think of Hake's Americana. The York, Pa., company is well known in the toy collectibles arena and often offers a variety of excellent items from political to war-related items in its massive catalogs.

And among those thousands of lots are sports collectibles nestled in the middle. So you might not have heard what's included in the current Auction #204 that closes Nov. 8-10.

In the catalog is the Richard Merkin Collection, which happens to include plenty of authenticated Cuban baseball cards from such makers as Punch Cigarros and Cabanas, among others. A few of the prices are starting to turn some heads.

One such example is the 1910 Punch Cigarros P. (Pete) Hill without backing (SGC A). The current bid is $16,500. From the description: Hill was a giant among "Giants", starring with legendary clubs such as the Cuban X Giants, Philadelphia Giants, Leland Giants and Chicago American Giants. Playing alongside baseball greats Rube Foster, Pop Lloyd and Bruce Petway, Hill captained the legendary Leland Giants of 1910, credited with a record of 123 wins and just six losses. Inducted into the National Baseball Hall Of Fame in 2006.

Other notable prices thus far in the auction include 1910 PUNCH CIGARROS EDDIE PLANK SGC A ($5,500), 1923-24 Billiken Jose Mendez SGC 50 ($5,500) and a 1923-1924 NACIONALES #53 ANDY COOPER SGC 30 ($3,328).

TheMerkin Collection also included team photos. Two fo the most popular at the moment are CIUDAD TRUJILLO 1937 team photo with Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Cool Papa Bell ($5,500), and a 1935 Kansas City Monarchs team photo ($4,500).

For more information on these lots and the rest of the auction, visit www.hakes.com.