T206 Autographed Jack Powell

[Archive]

Posted By: James Feagin

For those tracking T206 autographs, just like the Elmer Smith card, this also appears to be a different player. The pictured Powell died in 1944 while William Powell, who didn't appear in T206 died in 1967. Just thought I'd give a heads up.

[Archive]

Posted By: T206Collector

...thanks for the tip!

[Archive]

Posted By: Dave F

What in the world were all the guys doing signing cards of other players? Geez.

[Archive]

Posted By: Dave F

James....are you sure this wasn't the William Powell that signed the card? Not sure how he could have gotten confused about being the player on the card...but who knows.

http://www.nlbpa.com/powell__william.html

[Archive]

Posted By: James Feagin

Good research. Without an example from the other player it's difficult to know. I do know this came from an early "through the mail" autograph collector, and I'm pretty sure Negro League addresses weren't so known back then. This much is for sure though, it isn't Jack Powell.

[Archive]

Posted By: Rhys

It was common back in the 1950's and 1960's for people to get confused with their autograph requests. This is before the generation of Baseball Encyclopedias and stat compilations. People would send the wrong cards and preprinted bio sheets to ball players all the time and I have owned several instances through the 1970's where this occured. I am thinking someone simply saw the last name Powell on an old baseball card and mailed it off and the ballplayer just coutiously signed it. It might have even had a letter with it that explained the mixup but not likely. Many of these old ballplayers only received a few autograph requests a month, if that, and were flattered at the fact that someone remembered them so the odds of them bringing up a technicality to one of their few remaining fans is not likely.

Rhys