O'BALDWIN, NED CABINET CARD ("THE IRISH GIANT")

Ned O’Baldwin (The Irish Giant) was a contender of the 1860s and 1870s who was heavily hyped during his career and remembered for a while after it. He was 6’ 5’’ 200 lbs and purportedly fast and agile for his size. He was matched twice to fight Jem Mace for the title, once in the UK and once in America. On both occasions the fight fell through due to police interference. On at least the second occasion O’Baldwin was installed as the betting favorite. Mike Donovan contended that O’Baldwin was the greatest living heavyweight, prior to the rise of John L Sullivan. It is also interesting, that during Jim Jeffries career he was sometimes compared to O’Baldwin in terms of his combination of size and speed. O’Baldwin had a violent temper and was often in court as a result. He was jailed for armed robbery after he threatened to bludgeon a stakeholder. He died after being shot by his business partner, with whom he co-owned a saloon, after an altercation. Offered here is a cabinet card of Ned O'Baldwin depicting him as he appeared in the 1870's.
This is a cabinet card of Ned O'Baldwin in fight pose. Bold, clear image. Clean front and back. Not creased. Small chip at upper left corner. Name written in fountain pen on left side. 4 1/8" x 6 1/2."