Reviewing the T206 150-only subjects....with a "twist"......show us some cards

[tedzan]

As we know, American Lithographic initially printed 12 subjects which were the first T206's (issued circa Spring 1909). Listed here are these 12 guys......

Red Ames (hands at chest)
George Brown (Chicago Nat'l)
Mordecai Brown (bat-Cubs)
Al Burch (batting)
Mike Donlin (fielding)
Larry Doyle (throwing)

Johnny Evers (bat-blue sky)
Harry Pattee
Barney Pelty (horizontal)
Eddie Plank
Ed Reulbach (glove)
Honus Wagner


Contrary to the conventional thinking, it's my opinion that Mike Powers should not be considered a 150-only T206 subject. American Lithographic actually
printed Powers battery mate, Eddie Plank, with this 1st series of 12 cards. This we know for certain, since a partial sheet of Piedmont 150 cards were dis-
covered in Eastern Long Island (NY) in the mid 1980's. Included on this sheet were Eddie Plank & Honus Wagner (subsequently referred to as the Gretzky
Wagner). For more info on this, check-out this 2009 thread....http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=111871





My theory regarding the Mike Powers card is....he was subsequently printed in press runs which included 33 other subjects. This appears evident, as the
backs of these 34 subjects were also overprinted with the SWEET CAPORAL 150 Factory #649 stamp. Unfortunately, on Opening Day (April 12 1909) of
Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Mike Powers suffered an injury on the field. In the hospital, the doctors discovered he had serious intestinal system problems.
He passed away 2 weeks later (re. Net54 thread posted 2008). My point here is that the Powers card was actually printed with this group of 34 subjects.
Of which, 33 of them became 150/350 series cards. The Powers card was discontinued due to his untimely death; therefore, he was not printed with any
350 series backs.


Stay tuned regarding the Eddie Plank card story in the next post here.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[tedzan]

Eddie Plank

Several theory's (such as the "broken printing plates" myth, etc.) have been proposed to explain the "short-printing" of the Eddie Plank card. Well,
my take on this mystery is very simple....having read Connie Mack's ** response to a Philadelphia sports writer (circa 1910)........

"The secret of Plank's pitching is no secret at all. It is a good strong arm, a powerful constitution to back it, and neither drinks, smokes,
chews tobacco, nor swears...."

My guess is Eddie Plank informed the American Tobacco Co. (ATC) that he did not want his image portrayed on Tobacco cards. And, being the low-keyed
guy that he was, Plank did not "hype-up" his anti-tobacco stance (as Wagner did). Most likely, a brief "cease and desist" order was issued to ATC.





Furthermore, why ATC continued issuing the Plank card with a SWEET CAPORAL 350, Factory #30 back for a short period of time is anyone's guess. ?
I have some thoughts regarding this; however, I'm curious what your's may be ? ?

The majority of T206 Plank cards in circulation are the SWEET CAPORAL 350, Factory #30 versions. And, it is interesting to note that the colors of the
majority of these particular Plank cards are quite pale in comparison with the rich-looking colors of the PIEDMONT 150 or SWEET CAPORAL 150 cards.


So, let's hear your thoughts on this subject ?


Footnote **
"Connie Mack", by Norman Macht


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Sean]

Ted, I have no reason for this, but I've always thought that the printers made a mistake by including Plank in the 350 series. When the mistake was caught, they stopped printing the card. Just a guess on my part.

[Sean]

And yes, you're right about the blue background: the 350 series really does look washed-out compared to the 150 series.

[sb1]

Originally Posted by Sean

And yes, you're right about the blue background: the 350 series really does look washed-out compared to the 150 series.

This is true of all of the 150 vs. their 350 counterparts, all of the 150 cards are much sharper with bolder colors. I believe the stones were becoming worn and they were not inked often enough during the higher volume 350 series printings as they were during the initial 150 series. It is fairly easy to tell which is which from the front only when they are side by side and often even when they are solo's. The 150's are just crisper and bolder looking. The 150 Plank has brought a premium over the 350 series for some time.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by Sean

Ted, I have no reason for this, but I've always thought that the printers made a mistake by including Plank in the 350 series. When the mistake was caught, they stopped printing the card. Just a guess on my part.

Hi Sean

It may have been a mistake why ALC continued printing Plank with the SWEET CAPORAL, Factory #30 backs....or, perhaps it was deliberate.

Plank was probably the most popular southpaw pitcher by 1910 (the 10th year of his career). He had Won over 200 games by that time. So,
perhaps ALC intended to keep issuing Plank's card. Despite Plank's objections to tobacco.

Note that his 350 card was shipped only to Factory #30 (NY). Factory #30 produced Tobacco products shipped to New York and New England.
Therefore, Plank's card would normally NOT have been found in SWEET CAP cigarette packs in the greater Philadelphia area.

This may sound like one of my "wild imagination" speculations. However, an American Lithographic ledger sheet (circa 1910) has been found
with instructions to the effect......"this package of SWEET CAPORAL cards are not be shipped to Philadelphia".

A Net54 member posted this ledger sheet some years ago. I cannot find it. Hopefully, he reads this thread and posts it again.


TED Z

T206 Reference

.

[steve B]

I have that saved as well as a few other images of parts of the ledger.

It's not entirely clear that it's the baseball cards, but it is clear that Philadelphia was treated differently in some way.


What's interesting is that the other fragments have cards from a number of different factories. If it's actually a ledger from ATC, it might indicate that the cards stopped somewhere other than going direct to the cigarette factory. And that might indicate that they weren't all produced at ALC. (I think, but I'm not sure at the moment that ALC owned other plants besides the main one in NY.)

Or, it may not be an ATC ledger, but one from ALC.

Either possibility is very interesting.

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by steve B

I have that saved as well as a few other images of parts of the ledger.

It's not entirely clear that it's the baseball cards, but it is clear that Philadelphia was treated differently in some way.


What's interesting is that the other fragments have cards from a number of different factories. If it's actually a ledger from ATC, it might indicate that the cards stopped somewhere other than going direct to the cigarette factory. And that might indicate that they weren't all produced at ALC. (I think, but I'm not sure at the moment that ALC owned other plants besides the main one in NY.)
Or, it may not be an ATC ledger, but one from ALC.

Either possibility is very interesting.

They owned quite a few other plants around that time period.

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=205962