W601 - Sporting Life Premiums

[bcbgcbrcb]

After doing some research recently, I have found images of what appear to be W601 - Sporting Life Premiums printed within the early Reach Baseball Guides dating from 1903 - 1909. However, upon closer review, it appears that some of the images do not contain the same players as the "real" premiums as evidenced by the 1903 Phila (AL), an image of which appears in the 1904 Reach Guide w/Chief Bender while the recently completed Clean Sweep Auction included the 1903 Phila (AL) premium without Bender being included on the piece.

Does anyone know if there were different variations of these produced as originals? Also, is there any source for a checklist of players pictured on each team's year-by-year premium?

Any help that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.

[Jacklitsch]

I have two (2) 1903's but no 1904 Reach Guide. It might be interesting to see if this occurs with other teams.

[David Atkatz]

There were different versions of the composites. They appeared on the front page of Sporting Life, and if the team changed between the time the magazine appeared, and the premiums were printed, so did the composites.

The 1903 NY American Sporting Life cover version does not show Kid Elberfeld--who didn't join the team until later in the season--while the premium does.

[Vintagecatcher]

I'd like some of the W601 experts to comment on the dating on some of the
W601s.

On the one I recently won in the Clean Sweep Auction, for example, it notes,
"Providence Baseball Club of 1905 Eastern League Champions for 1906."

Is it correct to assume that the composite shows the 1905 Providence Clamdiggers team and that by the time of release the 1906 Providence Grays had just won the 1906 Eastern League title?

I know that some other W601s also have this format, while others just say champions for a particular year. Seems like a strange practice.

http://www.csauctions.com/item.cgi?show_item=0000287541

I look forward to any feedback,

Thanks,

Patrick

[Jacklitsch]

Patrick, that's a great pickup. Sorry I missed it but happy you got it.

These are my "Champions" W601's. They make reference only to the year of being champs.

[rhettyeakley]

Patrick, if the piece says "Champions for 1906" on bottom, the piece pictures the 1905 team. It was common for the team winning the Championship to be referred to as the Champions during the entire next season until a new champion was crowned. Thus your piece is from the 1905 W601 set.
-Rhett

[Vintagecatcher]

Thanks Steve and Rhett for your responses.

I'm excited that I was able to pickup up a Minor League item for Ira Thomas, and it's cool because the 1905 Providence team was known as the Providence Clamdiggers, while the team name changed to Providence Grays in 1906.

Thanks again,

Patrick