John L. Sullivan’s biography

John Lawrence Sullivan (born October 15, 1858, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.—died February 2, 1918, Abingdon, Massachusetts) was an American boxer who was the first world heavyweight champion of gloved boxing. His career as a boxer spanned 1879 to 1892, and he was considered the last of the bare-knuckle champions and the first of the gloved champions. Sullivan’s aggressive style, impressive endurance, and incredible punching power made him one of the most popular and recognizable figures of his era. He was also known for his larger-than-life personality and his penchant for partying and heavy drinking. Sullivan held the heavyweight title from 1882 to 1892, and during that time, he successfully defended it against all challengers. He retired from the ring with a record of 35 wins, 1 loss and 2 draws. After his retirement, Sullivan toured the United States and Europe as a boxer-turned-entertainer and actor. He died in 1918 at the age of 59.

1887 : N174 Old Judge

The card here was sold by Heritage Auctions in 2009 for the amount of $2629