The best pre-NL/MLB professional baseball team is recalled with this Harper's Weekly woodcut of the 1874 Boston Red Stockings. The team now known as the Atlanta Braves was founded in 1871, and competed for its first five seasons in the National Association. The Red Stockings dominated the NA, winning four of the five championships during the league's 5-year existence. Following that great success, the Boston franchise helped form the National League in 1876, as a charter member. Driving the Red Stockings winning ways was a core group of five Hall of Famers, with George Wright, Harry Wright, "Deacon" White, Jim O'Rourke, and Al Spalding. All five of these team leaders batted .300+ in 1874, while ace Spalding went 52-16, accounting for nearly all of the squad's 52-18 season. These 19th Century legends are all depicted in the offered 16x11 woodcut, which was removed from a Harper's Weekly compilation book dating from circa 1900. This crisp page shows approximate VG+ details and is well-suited for framed display. Other notables seen are Roscoe Barnes, Cal McVey, and Andy Leonard, who also each batted .300+ during the 1874 season.





Opening Bid $50.