Posted By:
Frank WakefieldI think it is ok to use MLB when referring to the major leagues at the time that the white border cards were distributed...
But realistically, it was The National League and American League. Two separate entities, that started co-operation in 1903, and were still dancing around it a bit, with mistrust of one another, even when these cards came out.
I agree with what is above, that the NL and the AL didn't get involved in licensing of images at the time when the white border cards were issued.
I'm not sure when MLB came into being... they have a logo and all, probably closely tied to the MLBPA, what we call the players' association.
The business of baseball was a bit of a nebulous, infant beast back then... before antitrust and union stuff, before recognized free agency and strikes...