1907 Dietsche Detroit Tigers Postcards Ty Cobb ROOKIE Fielding PSA VG-EX 4
1907 Dietsche Detroit Tigers Ty Cobb (Fielding Pose) – PSA 4 - A Rare Glimpse of Cobb’s Rookie Year in One of the Hobby’s Earliest Postcard Gems
Long before he became a mythic figure in baseball lore, Ty Cobb was a scrappy 20-year-old outfielder just beginning to make waves in Detroit. The 1907 season was his first full campaign—and it ended with a World Series appearance. That same year, the Dietsche Postcard series was issued locally in Detroit, giving collectors a rare, contemporary window into the early days of Cobb’s legendary career. These postcards are now considered among the earliest regionally-issued collectibles of any Hall of Fame player, and this fielding version is one of Cobb’s most historic portraits.
The card captures Cobb posed in a defensive stance, glove extended and gaze focused—an image that contrasts the fiery batting exploits he's best remembered for. Issued on sepia-toned photographic stock with ornate postcard backing, these Dietsche Tigers postcards were printed in extremely limited numbers and were never reissued, making them far scarcer than many mainstream tobacco or gum issues.
This PSA 4 example presents well for the grade, offering strong image clarity, solid corners for a postcard over 115 years old, and exceptional historical appeal. Even in mid-grade condition, the survival rate of Cobb’s Dietsche issues is remarkably low, and demand remains high due to their significance as rookie-year ephemera.