[Archive]

Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

BILL T

With respect to E-sets, why Schaefer and not Street....I can't say. But, I have a theory regarding why Walter
Johnson is not in the E-sets (except E91c).

My speculation is that Am. Tobacco (ATC) traded off the rights to portray Plank for Johnson. Am. Caramel (AC)
in their E91 and E90-1 sets (circa 1908) first portrayed Plank. The President of AC, David Lafean, was very close
friends with Connie Mack and Eddie Plank. Eddie Plank went to Gettysburg College when Lafean was the Director
there. And, AC was based in Philadelphia.

So, when ATC issued their T206 set (1909), AC forced ATC to discontinue their Plank (and most of the A's players).
And, in a reciprocal agreement, AC gave up their rights to portray Johnson in all their subsequent E-sets.
I posted this theory on Net54 about 7 months ago.

By 1908 Plank was already a great pitcher, while Johnson was having losing seasons during his early years (1907-09).

TED Z