T-206 Centennial

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Posted By: RayB

This has crossed my mind more than a couple of times recently. How huge will the 100th anniversary of the T-206 set be in our hobby?

Is today's run up in T-206 set values related in any way to this upcoming anniversary?

In my mind this is a very important anniversary.
Owning 100 year old cards has an ethereal and substantial appeal. I know it gives me goosebumps. I think this will be a really big draw for collectors to join the passion of immersing themselves in this set already enjoyed by so many of us.

What do others think about this upcoming event?
RayB

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Posted By: Dave

I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the 100 years coming up or not. TO me personally, it doesn't. Wouldn't make much of a difference if the 100 years had already come or gone. I just enjoy them probably moreso than any other vintage card, besides the oddball card that comes along now and then. By the way Ray, payment sent regarding something else. Thanks.

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Posted By: T206Collector

End Of A Century
by Paul (aka T206Collector).

As the confetti settles from New Year’s Eve 2006, we move a year closer to the 100th anniversary of the T-206 White Border tobacco baseball card set, which was issued over three years by the American Tobacco Company beginning in 1909. When I began collecting T-206 almost a decade ago, I never thought I would ever complete the set, even without the ultra elusive Honus Wagner, Eddie Plank, Sherry Magie and “Slow” Joe Doyle variation cards. I was content with my first two -- Christy Mathewson (White Cap) and Chief Bender (Portrait) cards that I acquired from a friend who wanted a little spending cash for a trip to Las Vegas and had some of his grandfather’s cards to sell (my only regret was that I could not convince him to sell his Walter Johnson (Portrait) card). But thanks to the Internet, with special thanks to eBay, I have accomplished the goal of a set of 520 T-206 cards. Just three years shy of the centennial, it is time to begin considering how to celebrate a century of cardboard magic as the “Monster” turns 100.

There are many ways to commemorate the 100th birthday of the most celebrated baseball card set ever issued. Those lucky enough to own a genuine T-206 Honus Wagner card might stick a candle (unlit, of course) in a cupcake in front of their card, and offer it to the image of the “Flying Dutchman” in honor of its legacy as the greatest baseball card ever known. Others might build a Field of Dreams in their study or living room for the two members of the Black Sox featured in T-206, Chick Gandil and Eddie Cicotte, giving the pair a supernatural opportunity to right an old wrong. Two other players featured on T-206 cards -- “Sleepy” Bill Burns (wearing a left-handed glove on his right hand in his T-206 card) and Hal Chase (whose fame at the time was reflected in five different T-206 cards, unsurpassed in number even by the great Ty Cobb, who was only represented on four issues) -- were involved behind the scenes of that 90-year old scandal and could also be afforded a shot at redemption.

It would be truly special if those with complete or partial sets of T-206 would feel comfortable enough with available insurance and security to bring their collections to a convention at midnight, December 31, 2008, where T-206 collectors would be able to swap stories and, of course, cards. While none of these suggestions may come to fruition, I would settle for an approximate tally of how many collectors out there own at least 520 of the 524 different T-206 cards on the first day of 2009. It would be interesting to track how much that number grows or diminishes the further we get from a time when Polar Bear was the finest scrap tobacco.

My New Year’s resolution for 2009 will be to have a complete T-206 set on the SGC Set Registry. I would, of course, settle for 99% completion, missing only the four cards alluded to above. As of the writing of this note, there were only two SGC graded T-206 sets registered at 99% completion. My collection currently stands at just over 40%. While I may be able to get to 99% on the Set Registry by January 1, 2009, it will be quite a challenge to get there with a minimum average grade of 40/3/VG, above which my graded collection currently resides. But somehow I acquired 518 more T-206 cards than I dreamed I would own less than 10 years ago. In collecting T-206, as in life, anything is possible.

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Posted By: steve f

If American Tobacco was still in business, it would be a special event. I'm gonna tape little party hats to my portrait variations and sing Happy Birthday! Watch for invitations

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Posted By: Darren

arbitrary

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

So the centennial would be in September of 2009???? Would Duke University be the place to mark the centennial?

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Posted By: Tom Boblitt

Lacrosse game.....woops.....not a good idea. How do we target September?

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Posted By: Dylan

maybe we get all get together and throw a huge party lol

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

My recollection is that the first appearance of an ad for cigarettes with the cards depicted was in a September issue of The Sporting Life. I have the March through September 1909 microfilm of The Sporting Life, I think the ad was near the end of the reel. There's a reproduction of the ad on the cover of Mr. Lipset's fine encylcopedia about T cards, and the ad is in the T206 section, too.

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Posted By: steve b

people to notice the set, and also get more to collect it. I see the Hall Of Famers going way up and maybe even double in price. It comes down to supply and demand. In my opinion of course.

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Posted By: Trae R.

Does anyone happen to have any period advertisements that show T206's? I would love scans!

Thanks

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Posted By: J Hull

From the New Orleans Daily Picayune

Here are a couple:

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Posted By: RayB

That the cards in that ad feature the names along the top edge. You wonder whether the folks at the Tobacco Company who ran with the ad had even seen the cards yet at this point.
RayB

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Posted By: Trae R.

Thanks J Hull! Does anyone else have any? I appreciate it.

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Posted By: robert a

Here's an old mill ad Trae.

Good point Ray.

These don't show the names of the top, but notice that there was 2 cards coming out of the pack.

I would guess there have been Old Mill finds in the Atlanta area which is where this ad came from.

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Posted By: Trae R.

Sweet, thanks! Keep em' coming!

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Posted By: Scot Reader

I love the line in the Hindu ad about what we now call T206:

"Will be of great interest now and still greater in the years to come."

Prophetic.


Scot

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

I'd love to see more ads. Thank you, guys.

And my September guess is too late. I see that August 1909 dateline!!! So the centennial moves even closer!

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Posted By: Dave

I've yet to discover an Old Mill find here in Atlanta, waiting on the wife to fall asleep and the flashlight to finish charging so I can head out for the night though....

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Posted By: Gilbert Maines

What is it that you guys are going on about?

2009 is the centennial of the Lincoln Cent. From its humble beginning in 1909, the Lincoln Cent replaced the Indian with some of the hobbies greatest rarities: the 1909, THE 1909VDB, the 1909S and the venerated 1909SVDB.

During this inaugrual year the 1909 and 1909S Indian was also produced. This results in six different one cent coins being issued by the government in a single year.

I guess that I better shut up now, while your heart can still take it. I know how excited y'all become when I go on a OT coin tangent.

But really - did they also make a baseball card in 1909?

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Posted By: Chuck

What kind of back would have been in a Hindu box? Also, were there ever two cards per box?

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

2 cards to a cigarette box for some of the non-New England markets (down south) is my understanding... 1 card for the northern brands for the carpetbaggers. And don't ya reckon they'ed put Hindu cards in Hindu boxes??

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Posted By: Brian Weisner

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Posted By: Brian Weisner

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Posted By: Brian Weisner

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Posted By: robert a

Dave,

You might have to settle for an Old Mill advertisement find. I never stop looking myself though. Not sure how many Old Mills are hiding out in Seattle... Don't tell my wife that. That would confirm that I'm completely crazy.

This box score is from an Atlanta Crackers/Philadelphia A's game. It was right under the Old Mill ad on the same page of the 1910 Atlanta Constitution.

Rob

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Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

I find it quite interesting that most of the cards depicted in these adv. have the
names on the top. And, we all know the T206 players were printed in a vertically
repeated pattern; so, did the T206 designers initially intend to have the captions
above the player's picture (as shown in these adv.) ?

What are your thoughts on this.....?

T-Rex TED

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

Hey Ted,

My thoughts... I can see the cover of Mr. Lipset's Encyclopedia covering 20th century tobacco cards, it has that Sporting Life ad enlarged, and Lew got someone to color in the artwork. The names are at the tops of those cards. Which is where the names are in every ad I've seen.

I wonder if, while looking at the printed but uncut sheets, someone decided the names looked better at the bottom, and cut them that way. Most of us have seen T206s with a bit of name at the top... I have a Ryan (Roanoke, I think) where there is no name. And lots of margin, top and bottom. It is taller than many T206s. I'm wondering now if he was cut from the bottom of the sheet...

I'd like to know the name of the company that actually did the printing. American Tobacco didn't, Sweet Caporal didn't, some lithography company out there printed these cards, just as they'd print cardboard boxes, business cards, business forms, and the like.

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Posted By: barrysloate

I think the names at the top in the ad aren't a big deal because the way the artist depicted the pack, only the tops of the cards were showing. So there was no other way to identify those two players. More interesting is that in August 1909, with that season nearly over, only the first series of 150 was being offered. Does anybody know at what point the expanded set of 350 was being advertised? And as far as 2009 being the centennial, it may not be that big a deal. I remember when 1993 was approaching I expected that the bicentennial of the first U.S coinage (half cents and large cents were the first American coins and they debuted in 1793) would be a big deal but I don't think it was. Can the T206 set be any more popular than it already is?

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

Barry... how dare you suggest that pennies and half pennies are as significant as T206s.

When I get pennies, I confess to saving a few, but I spend most of them. Seems like I hold on to most of my T206s. I hold the cards in higher regard than the coins...

Blashpamy!!!! Next thing I know you'll be celebrating July 4th...


This T206 centennial is a serious thing, now. Don't be comparing it to a penny's birthday. Your Auction dates are even more important that penny birthdays.

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Posted By: barrysloate

But when was the last time you found a half cent in your pocket change? Early American coinage is beautiful, especially the ones issued between 1793-1807. For those who are not familiar with them there are always many fine examples to be found on ebay. They are little pieces of artwork.

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Posted By: DJ

I don't think it will make a lick of difference, especially since T206 doesn't have the yearly designation like all th excitement over the 1952 Topps set's 50th Anniversary.

Who said we should throw a party?

Okay, how about New York City, some steakhouse...

DJ

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Posted By: barrysloate

Don't even go there...I think all the steakhouses in NY are closed for repairs!

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Posted By: Frank Wakefield

I think it has to be near Duke University... in honor of J B Duke, who got the American Tobacco Trust going. We need a small town out of the way. We can rent a tobacco barn, kill a pig, get some bar-b-q going, tap a keg, roast some ears (corn, city folks), get a pick up game of ball going. Gotta go a beer an inning, can't start an inning until everyone is caught up.

None of this NY steakhouse nonsense, we gotta celebrate!

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Posted By: Chuck

What a moron (me..just to be clear). I must have been thrown for a loop due to the names on the top.

Reminds me of the time I called into a radio station and argued with a DJ that Jackson Browne had never released a live album. I'd forgotten about Running on Empty and the call was because they had played a live recording of For Everyman the night before.