Posted By:
Ted ZanidakisInitially, I posted this thread in order to try and establish some kind of a timeline for the 1st POLAR
BEAR (PB) release. And, I was hoping to spark some discussion on this; however, the T213 contro-
versy has once again surfaced....and, any meaningful thought-provoking discussion is blunted.
Anyhow, Scot Reader and I have wondered why Demmitt and O'Hara (NY versions) were not printed
with the PB backs. Yet, their St Louis versions only exist with PB backs. I think the following informa-
tion may explain this, and at the same time establish an initial PB release date for the 350-only Series.
Both Demmitt and O'Hara started their careers with their respective NY teams in April 1909.
After, both having played OF for a better part of the 1909 season, they were both traded
to their respective St. Louis teams.
They started the 1910 season with their St Louis teams; but, by May 1910 they both were
sent down to the Eastern League. Demmitt to Montreal and O'Hara to Toronto.
Therefore, it's my conclusion that the very 1st printing of the PB cards ocurred in a narrow window,
no earlier than the start of the Spring season in 1910....and, was a very limited production run.
Subsequently, PB production runs were much larger when American Litho. started cranking out the
460 version of the 350/460 Series and the 460-only Series cards.
Jamie you stated.......
"T213-1's are actually a 1909 issue. Which would mean all team captions found on T213-1's would
coincide with the player pictured actually being with that team at the time the cards were made."
I cannot agree that this 1st issue of the Coupon series were issued prior to 1910. Moreso than any
player's team dating, the T-brand's back artwork tells us approximately when certain cards were
issued.
I have tried to emphasize this with my "quintuplicate" illustration; however, I guess it is not as con-
vincing to some, as I'd like it to be.
TED Z