PBS' "Antiques Roadshow" just hit a homerun.

In a recent episode of the much-loved antique appraisal show, the team discovered a collection of 1870s baseball memorabilia. The said collection, which features very rare Boston Red Stockings baseball cards, was appraised at US$1 million.

In 1871, the Boston Red Stockings became part of the first pro baseball league, the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players. In 1876, the team joined Major League Baseball in the National League, where they remained until 1882.

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The franchise formerly known as the Boston Red Stockings moved to Milwaukee, then Atlanta. The former team is now known as the Atlanta Braves.

Producer Marsha Bemko shared that the collection is the biggest find that show has ever featured. "Antiques Roadshow" has been on air for 19 years and the team has travelled all over America, appraising antiques and family heirlooms.

On the show's Saturday taping in New York, the owner brought the collection to be appraised, saying that she had inherited it from her great-great-grandmother who managed a boarding house in Boston where the team lived for a year, from 1871-1872.

For security reasons, PBS has chosen to keep the identity of the collection's owner secret.

The owner said that she has never had the collection appraised, but someone had offered her US$5,000 for it in the past.

Leila Dunbar was the "Antiques Roadshow" appraiser that looked at the collection.

Dunbar said that the "crown jewel" of the memorabilia was a letter written by the players to the owner's grandmother.

The letter includes notes from eventual sporting-goods leader, Albert Spalding and, brothers Harry and George Wright. The three athletes, who are Hall of Fame players, thanked the Boston landlady for her care and excellent cooking.

Dunbar was ecstatic at the find, stating, "We've never seen these cards before. We didn't even know they existed." 

Episodes of the show shot in New York will air in 2015 on PBS.

"Antiques Roadshow" airs every Monday night.

TagsBaseball memorabilia, PBS, Antique Roadshow