Original 1936 Goudey Wide Pen Premium (R314) featuring Tony Freitas of the Cincinnati Reds, one of the greatest pitchers in Pacific Coast League history.

Antonio “Tony” Freitas pitched in the majors for the Philadelphia Athletics and Cincinnati Reds from 1932 to 1936, but his lasting legacy came in the Pacific Coast League. He finished with 342 minor league wins, widely noted as the most ever by a left-handed pitcher, and was later named to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame and All-Century Team. He also threw a no-hitter for Sacramento on his birthday in 1932 and became a key figure in Sacramento baseball history. 

This card was issued during Freitas’s final major league season with Cincinnati, making it a nice crossover piece for Reds collectors, pre-war collectors, and Pacific Coast League historians. While he is not a Baseball Hall of Famer like some bigger names in the R314 set, Freitas has a strong following because of his remarkable minor league career and his place among the all-time great PCL pitchers.

These Wide Pen premiums measure approximately 3 1/4" x 5 1/2" and were issued by Goudey as larger-format retail premiums rather than standard pack-issued cards. The front features the bold facsimile “wide pen” autograph, with a blank back and the “Litho in U.S.A.” marking visible at the lower right. 

This example presents well with strong eye appeal for the grade. The image is clear, with light corner and edge wear consistent with age. The back is blank with normal toning. Overall condition appears to fall in the VG to VG-EX range.

Please review all photos closely for exact condition. Great addition for pre-war baseball collectors, Cincinnati Reds fans, Pacific Coast League collectors, Sacramento Solons collectors, or anyone building the 1936 Goudey R314 Wide Pen set.