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Tim NewcombTodd is right, there's no clear way to tell the year on these numbers that are the same in both sets.
If the card is blank backed (the most common), or has a Sporting News back, it could be either year.
However, as I understand it, Famous and Barr backs were only issued in 1915.
Most of the other ad backs were issued in 1916 only, although a few-- Gimbel's, Successful Farming, and Standard Biscuit-- can be found on 1915-only and 1916-only numbers, so they were obviously issued in both years.
To my knowledge there were no changes in player pose between the two years. If a player is in both sets, then it's the same pose.
Maybe one just has to say, if you can't tell what year it is, it's whatever year you want it to be. That's what I've taken to doing.
Have fun with these great sets--
Tim Newcomb