Posted By:
Pennsylvania TedMy feeling is that the 150-only cards are very unique in the T206 issue. In all likelihood, these 12 (or so) cards
were the very 1st cards printed when T206 production was started up in 1909.
Therefore, Mr. Wagner would have been on a strip (or panel) adjoined with some of these other 11 cards that
I have displayed here (that is if this 5-card strip was an actual production, or even prototype piece).
Others may disagree with my opinion, and that's certainly fine. But, they qualify their differing opinion by simply
passing it off as "proof strip". But, as one who was in Research and Development, I have a pretty darn good in-
sight into what it takes to put something into production. So, whether it be an electronics system or just printing
a sheet of BB cards, I do not see this strip as an original prototype (it does not fit the "template").
And Jim, regarding Plank....if you recall, some months ago I theorized that the discontinuance of the T206 Plank card
was possibly the result of the American Caramel Company's "exclusive right" to portray Eddie Plank; and, most of
Connie Mack's Phila. A's players (ca. 1908-09).
In the 1st Series of T206's, Plank and Wagner are only found with Piedmont 150 or Sweet Cap 150 Fac. 25 backs,
and that's proof enough for me that they were both printed on the same sheets.
Subsequently, Plank was printed (in very limited quantities) with a Sweet Cap 350 Fac. 30 back. And, as was
discussed in the aforementioned Plank thread, was possibly met again with legal contention by Am. Caramel Co.
Finally, I am not suggesting that this strip is a "phony"....it just isn't an original 1909 prototype, typical of the
original T206 white border cards