Honus Wagner has been championed as the anti-Tobacco guy. However, Wagner was a heavy cigar smoker. Be as it may, Wagner was
preceded by Connie Mack, who was a stronger anti-tobacco advocate. Connie talked the talk and walked the walk. He did not smoke or
chew tobacco; and, discouraged his players from smoking.
Furthermore, Connie was very much against alcohol and strictly frowned upon his ballplayers imbibing in it (especially before an important
game).
It is quite interesting that Connie Mack was not featured in any of the major tobacco card sets during the 1909-1912 era (see note).
While quite a few of the non-playing Managers were included (Dahlen, Patsy Donovan, Duffy, Griffith, Jennings, McGraw, etc.) in T-sets
of that era.
Could Mack's absence from these 1909-1912 era sets...T201, T202, T204, T205, T206, T207, T213, T215, T216...be attributable to his
anti-tobacco stand ?
NOTE....here are some of early 20th Century BB card sets featuring Connie Mack......
1902 W600
1909 M101-2
1910 E96 Philadelphia Caramel
1910 E98
1910 E104-1 NADJA....honoring the Philadelphia A's 1910 World Champions
1910-11 M116
1911 Rochester Baking (D359)
1914 Texas Tommy Type 1 (E224)
1914 Texas Tommy Type 2 (E224)
1914 Cracker Jack
1915 Cracker Jack
1916 M101-4
and
1911 Cullivan's Fireside scrap tobacco (card fronts are identical to the E104-1 issue....honoring the Philadelphia A's 1911 World Champions)
This scenario has all the stuff that we have read about regarding Wagner's anti-tobacco claims. OK, why is this most popular Manager not
featured in all those popular T-sets.....tell us your take on this subject ?
TED Z