Undated (ca. 1861) Pioneer Baseball Club. Copper. 32 mm. Musante JAB-1. MS-65 RB (NGC).A gorgeous Gem, both sides reveal iridescent pink, orange and powder blue undertones to dominant golden-copper patina. Sharply struck throughout with satiny luster and an expectably smooth appearance for the assigned grade. This historically significant issue is not only Bolens first medal, but Musante (2002) asserts that it may also be the first medallic commemoration of baseball as we know it today. The Pioneer Baseball Club was organized on April 30, 1858 in Springfield, Massachusetts, their first official game following on July 4 of that year. Rising to success in Massachusetts, by the fall of 1860 they had defeated all other teams for the unofficial title of champion baseball club of the state. To commemorate this achievement, team member Charles Vinton commissioned Bolen to cut dies for the medal type represented here. Whether this was done at Vintons personal request or on behalf of the entire team is unknown, although it seems likely that Vinton was acting on behalf of the latter in his capacity as secretary of the club. According to Musante, only 75 copper impressions were produced, the present example certainly among the finest available to todays discerning collectors.From the Ralph A. Edson Collection.
