This is a really cool card I forgot to mention, 2012 Panini Golden Age Ferguson Bakery Pennants Battling Nelson, the pennants come in two different variations, Yellow and Blue.
Battling Nelson facing off with Eddie Hanlon before their bout on July 29, 1904, at Woodward's Pavilion in San Francisco. Nelson prevailed winning by TKO in round 19. The bout was a high-profile matchup during Nelson's breakout year, with reports indicating it was a "sensational" fight.
Battling Nelson with his wife. He married Fay King, a cartoonist, in 1913. The couple divorced in 1916, but she later paid for part of his funeral arrangements following his death in 1954.
Battling Nelson walks away after Knocking down Dick Hyland in round 23 of scheduled 45 at the Mission Street Arena in Colma, California, on May 29, 1909. This is one of my favorite images of Nelson.
This is another one of my favorite photos of Battling Nelson, hugging a pile of gold coins. He was famous for demanding to be paid in gold or cash immediately following his bouts.
Love this shot of Battling Nelson sitting on his porch looking over his mail. One of the most mythical, toughest, fierce fighters in boxing history, but he was just like everyone else. It's interesting because Nelson actually worked at a post office in his older years after he was retired from boxing.
This next batch of photos is Battling Nelson in his later years after he retired from boxing. This is a photo of Bat taking a break from his job at the post office in Chicago in 1945 to chat with the press about his fighting days. He was 63 years old.
Battling Nelson was living in a hotel room at this point in his life, he had lost a lot of money in a real estate venture and fallen on hard times. It's a shame that such a legendary gladiator would have to struggle to survive. This is a photo of Marty Luck, a former fighter and lifelong friend of Battling Nelson, and Gene Kessler, Chicago Sun-Times sports writer, visiting Battling Nelson at his hotel to give him $50 to help him out in 1951. A fundraiser would be started to help him.
Fund Drive for Old Boxer. Chicago: Onetime ring warrior Battling Nelson, now 71, is waging the toughest fight of his career-against kid poverty. Shown here with his dog Taffy, Nelson may get his break when a testimonial dinner is held in Chicago, Sept. 28th. A nationwide drive is under way to raise $13,000, which will give the old Battler $100 a month for life. Nelson lost $300,000 in a real estate venture.
This is my favorite photo of Battling Nelson in his old age, celebrating his 71st birthday on June 5th, 1953, at his hotel room, with the birthday cake.
"Many persons and critics are of the opinion that the name BATTLING is a nickname of mine. Such is not the case. It was handed me when I was born, the selection of the splendid name falling to my Daddy. I was such a scrappy, lusty-lunged, busy child that he decided that there was but one name for me "De Battler" or Battling. I have used the name to good advantage ever since."
A few more photos of Battling Nelson and then I'll move on. I love this photo of him on the right, you can really see the wear and tear from the battles.
This is absolutely wicked, I found the original photo that was used for the image on the front cover of the book written about Battling Nelson, "The Durable Dane" by Mark Allen Baker.
I've gotten a bit carried away with the Battling Nelson photos, if it isn't obvious by now, I'm a really big Battling Nelson fan, he was one hell of a fighter, hard as fu..... nails. Great up-close shot.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Battling Nelson had this punch called the "scissors punch", it was a modified punch, a vicious punch to the liver, designed to maximize the amount of pain and damage inflicted on his opponents. Here's a breakdown on it.
A cartoon depicting Battling Nelson writing his autobiography. "Life, Battles and Career of Battling Nelson, Lightweight Champion of the World", was primarily published in 1908.
This is a first edition copy of Battling Nelson's autobiography signed by Nelson himself. Check out what he wrote:
“To My Friend Jimmie Falco from Battling Nelson” I, the “Mayor” of Hegewisch Ill. “The town I put on the map – altho I had to spoil a lot of other maps doing it.” April 18, 1923.
Comments
Battling Nelson in his prime.
This is a really cool card I forgot to mention, 2012 Panini Golden Age Ferguson Bakery Pennants Battling Nelson, the pennants come in two different variations, Yellow and Blue.
Might as well add this one as well, 1996 Rover & Co. Victory Blend Battling Nelson, from the Tough Yanks series.
A photo, autographed by the durable one himself.
Battling Nelson facing off with Eddie Hanlon before their bout on July 29, 1904, at Woodward's Pavilion in San Francisco. Nelson prevailed winning by TKO in round 19. The bout was a high-profile matchup during Nelson's breakout year, with reports indicating it was a "sensational" fight.
Battling Nelson posing with fighter Dick Cox and an unidentified lady.
A good up close photo of Battling Nelson, autographed as well.
1911 T9 Turkey Red Battling Nelson cabinet card, absolutely beautiful, love the red background with the faces.
Battling Nelson posing with a training dummy.
Battling Nelson with his wife. He married Fay King, a cartoonist, in 1913. The couple divorced in 1916, but she later paid for part of his funeral arrangements following his death in 1954.
Battling Nelson and some friends pose for the camera.
Battling Nelson was a snappy dresser.
I actually own this photo of Battling Nelson.
Nice sequence of photos taken at the same photo shoot.
Battling Nelson and Bat Masterson. Nelson signed this photo to Masterson in 1909. Recently sold in an auction.
Another photo of Battling Nelson on horseback.
Battling Nelson walks away after Knocking down Dick Hyland in round 23 of scheduled 45 at the Mission Street Arena in Colma, California, on May 29, 1909. This is one of my favorite images of Nelson.
Battling Nelson, hitting a training dummy. This is such a cool image.
Battling Nelson wearing the Bowler hat, surrounded by fans.
This is another one of my favorite photos of Battling Nelson, hugging a pile of gold coins. He was famous for demanding to be paid in gold or cash immediately following his bouts.
Love this shot of Battling Nelson sitting on his porch looking over his mail. One of the most mythical, toughest, fierce fighters in boxing history, but he was just like everyone else. It's interesting because Nelson actually worked at a post office in his older years after he was retired from boxing.
This next batch of photos is Battling Nelson in his later years after he retired from boxing. This is a photo of Bat taking a break from his job at the post office in Chicago in 1945 to chat with the press about his fighting days. He was 63 years old.
Battling Nelson was living in a hotel room at this point in his life, he had lost a lot of money in a real estate venture and fallen on hard times. It's a shame that such a legendary gladiator would have to struggle to survive. This is a photo of Marty Luck, a former fighter and lifelong friend of Battling Nelson, and Gene Kessler, Chicago Sun-Times sports writer, visiting Battling Nelson at his hotel to give him $50 to help him out in 1951. A fundraiser would be started to help him.
Fund Drive for Old Boxer. Chicago: Onetime ring warrior Battling Nelson, now 71, is waging the toughest fight of his career-against kid poverty. Shown here with his dog Taffy, Nelson may get his break when a testimonial dinner is held in Chicago, Sept. 28th. A nationwide drive is under way to raise $13,000, which will give the old Battler $100 a month for life. Nelson lost $300,000 in a real estate venture.
Battling Nelson with Taffy at the Ontario Hotel in Chicago on April 17th, 1953.
This is my favorite photo of Battling Nelson in his old age, celebrating his 71st birthday on June 5th, 1953, at his hotel room, with the birthday cake.
"Many persons and critics are of the opinion that the name BATTLING is a nickname of mine. Such is not the case. It was handed me when I was born, the selection of the splendid name falling to my Daddy. I was such a scrappy, lusty-lunged, busy child that he decided that there was but one name for me "De Battler" or Battling. I have used the name to good advantage ever since."
A few more photos of Battling Nelson and then I'll move on. I love this photo of him on the right, you can really see the wear and tear from the battles.
Battling Nelson, at 49 years old, shown at his home in Hegewisch, Chicago, Illinois, September 24, 1930.
Nelson as the lightweight champion.
Wicked image of Battling Nelson in 1908.
This shot of Battling Nelson looks like it was taken at the beginning of his career, he looks young in this photo.
Another great shot of Battling Nelson.
This is absolutely wicked, I found the original photo that was used for the image on the front cover of the book written about Battling Nelson, "The Durable Dane" by Mark Allen Baker.
This photo pictures Nelson doing some repairs on his estate at Hegewisch, Ill. He is 49 years old in this picture on September 25th, 1930.
Check this out, Battling Nelson and Benny Leonard together, two all-time greats.
Cool shot of Nelson.
Bat in the tuxedo. Nice autograph as well.
Battling Nelson fight pose cabinet card.
I've gotten a bit carried away with the Battling Nelson photos, if it isn't obvious by now, I'm a really big Battling Nelson fan, he was one hell of a fighter, hard as fu..... nails. Great up-close shot.
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention, Battling Nelson had this punch called the "scissors punch", it was a modified punch, a vicious punch to the liver, designed to maximize the amount of pain and damage inflicted on his opponents. Here's a breakdown on it.
Another good shot of Bat.
I like this image of Nelson with the cap on.
A cartoon depicting Battling Nelson writing his autobiography. "Life, Battles and Career of Battling Nelson, Lightweight Champion of the World", was primarily published in 1908.
This is a first edition copy of Battling Nelson's autobiography signed by Nelson himself. Check out what he wrote:
“To My Friend Jimmie Falco from Battling Nelson” I, the “Mayor” of Hegewisch Ill. “The town I put on the map – altho I had to spoil a lot of other maps doing it.” April 18, 1923.