The Tobacco Triple Crown - Players in T205, T206 and T207 sets

[brianp-beme]

1909 through 1912 was a glorious time for card collectors, and the T206 and T205 card sets are probably the most widely collected tobacco cards of the deadball era. The T207 set definitely lags in popularity and availability, but it shares characteristics of the other two sets (size of card, larger size of set, major league players, artwork based upon photos instead of photos themselves) to make it part of the Tobacco Card Triple Crown. There are other great tobacco sets from the era (T3, T201, T202, T204, T211 etc.), but none of them share all of the same specifications that I listed above.

Below is a list of the 71 players that have cards in each of these three sets. The T207 set definitely had an odd player selection, with many fringe players included, otherwise this list would have been much larger. As it is, beside the obvious big names missing in the T207 set (Cobb, Mathewson, Eddie Collins, etc.), the players that are seen in all three sets are definitely some of the more popular players of this era, and ones that are frequently seen in the other sets of the era, such as in various 'E' card issues.

Below is this list of players seen in all three sets, and I have included a scan of the Tobacco Triple Crown of one of these players, Lefty Leifield. Feel free to show any trios you may have. And let me know if anything seems inaccurate, whether missing or erroneously included. At some point I might do a list of those players seen in both T205 and T206, which would be a much larger grouping.

I have added an asterisk by each player that has had their Triple Crown on display.

Players in all three sets - T205/T206/T207

Neal Ball
Cy Barger *
Jack Barry * (thanks Peter)
Beals Becker *
Chief Bender *
Bob Bescher
Joe Birmingham
Lena Blackburne
Roger Bresnahan *
Bobby Byrne *
Howie Camnitz *
Bill Carrigan
Frank Chance *
Eddie Cicotte
Doc Crandall *
Jim Delahanty *
Art Devlin
Josh Devore *
Red Dooin *
Tom Downey
Larry Doyle *
Clyde Engle
Steve Evans *
Art Fletcher *
Art Fromme *
Peaches Graham *
Buck Herzog **
Walter Johnson *
Johnny Kling *
Ed Konetchy *
Harry Krause
Arlie Latham *
Tommy Leach *
Lefty Leifield *
Ed Lennox *
Paddy Livingston *
Harry Lord
Rube Marquard *
George McBride *
John McGraw *
Harry McIntire
Matty McIntyre *
Larry McLean *
Clyde Milan *
Dots Miller *
Mike Mitchell *
George Moriarity *
George Mullin *
Tom Needham *
Rebel Oakes *
Rube Oldring *
Dode Paskert *
Jack Quinn *
Ed Reulbach *
Nap Rucker *
Germany Schaefer *
Frank Schulte *
Jim Scott
Fred Snodgrass
Tris Speaker *
Oscar Stanage *
Harry Steinfeldt *
George Stovall *
Gabby Street *
Lee Tannehill *
Joe Tinker *
Terry Turner *
Bobby Wallace *
Zack Wheat *
Doc White *
Chief Wilson *
Hooks Wiltse *

Brian

[Tom S.]

Neat idea for a thread!

Allow me to help you cross Lee Tannehill off of the list:

T205:


T206:


Bonus T206!!!!:


T207:

[GeoPoto]

Walter P. "Barney" Johnson. "The Big Train". Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1907-1927. 417 wins and 34 saves in 21 MLB seasons. 1924 World Series champion. 1913 and 1924 AL Most Valuable Player. 3-time triple crown. 6-time AL wins leader. 5-time AL ERA leader. 12-time AL strikeout leader.

Johnson had a career ERA of 2.17 in 5,914.1 innings pitched. He pitched a no-hitter in 1920. He holds the MLB record with 110 career shutouts. MLB All-Time Team. Inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1936. One of his best seasons was 1913 as he posted a record of 36-7 with a 1.14 ERA in 346 innings pitched.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390610
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390623
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390683

[hcv123]

Howie Camnitz including all 3 T206 poses. Short a couple of T207's on a couple of the other Pirates - from the Chasser & sons Pirates collection

[brianp-beme]

Nice Triple Crowns everyone. It is nice that these three sets have completely different images for a player, unlike, for example, the E90/E92/E101/E102/E105 etc. pool of shared images.

Here is another Tobacco trio, this time featuring Beals Becker. In the previous Triple Crown of Leifield the T206 I showed is the favorite image from the 3 sets. In this one of Becker the T207 is the king in my eyes.

Brian

[tedzan]

Big John "Larry" McLean, at 6-feet-5 inches and nearly 230 pounds, was a huge character. You'll find his SABR write-up quite interesting, check it out.....
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/larry-mclean/


. . .
----------PIEDMONT 350



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[LACardsGuy]

My question is why did they make him look like Buster Keaton in the brown background card. :-)

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

Walter P. "Barney" Johnson. "The Big Train". Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1907-1927. 417 wins and 34 saves in 21 MLB seasons. 1924 World Series champion. 1913 and 1924 AL Most Valuable Player. 3-time triple crown. 6-time AL wins leader. 5-time AL ERA leader. 12-time AL strikeout leader.

Johnson had a career ERA of 2.17 in 5,914.1 innings pitched. He pitched a no-hitter in 1920. He holds the MLB record with 110 career shutouts. MLB All-Time Team. Inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1936. One of his best seasons was 1913 as he posted a record of 36-7 with a 1.14 ERA in 346 innings pitched.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390610
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390623
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390683

[brianp-beme]

Here is Tommy Leach...I think the artists in all 3 sets captured the look in his eyes.

Brian

[tschock]

Fun thread! Not the great scans, but my minimal contribution until a better one comes along. I'd pay altered/authentic prices for the Auth T205 like this one all day long.

[NuclearMike]

Fabulous thread guys. I'm learning something with each new post.

[Jeff_cvc]

Brian, thanks for the enjoyable thread!

T205 Barger (Full B on Cap) 1.jpgT205 Barger 1.jpgT206 Barger 1.jpgT207 Barger 1.jpg

T205 Barger (Full B on Cap) 2.jpgT205 Barger 2.jpgT206 Barger 2.jpgT207 Barger 2.jpg



T205 Fletcher 1.jpgT206 Fletcher 1.jpgT207 Fletcher 1.jpg

T205 Fletcher 2.jpgT206 Fletcher 2.jpgT207 Fletcher 2.jpg

[StraightRaceCards]

Originally Posted by GeoPoto

Walter P. "Barney" Johnson. "The Big Train". Pitcher for the Washington Senators in 1907-1927. 417 wins and 34 saves in 21 MLB seasons. 1924 World Series champion. 1913 and 1924 AL Most Valuable Player. 3-time triple crown. 6-time AL wins leader. 5-time AL ERA leader. 12-time AL strikeout leader.

Johnson had a career ERA of 2.17 in 5,914.1 innings pitched. He pitched a no-hitter in 1920. He holds the MLB record with 110 career shutouts. MLB All-Time Team. Inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame in 1936. One of his best seasons was 1913 as he posted a record of 36-7 with a 1.14 ERA in 346 innings pitched.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390610
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390623
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1620390683

Is it just me or does WaJo look like a Ghost in his T207? Good Halloween card!

[tedzan]

Josh Devore


.



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TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[brianp-beme]

Any player/team collectors with Tobacco Triple Crowns they would like to share?

Brian

[tedzan]

Brian

I'll be posting some more, if I can find the T205's and T207's in my archives. I'll keep searching ole buddy.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[G1911]

My favorite triple crown is Quinn (already posted), because of his appearance in 1933 Goudey as an active major league player (unlike the Collins, Speaker and Lajoie). He's the only T205/6/7 run I've built intentionally and specifically.

Another cool one is Chief Bender, though I don't have his, because it can extend both ways. Bender appears also in T204 and t208, the only subject to appear in 5 consecutive T card sets by the ACC numbers, I believe. I'd build his run if a T208 wasn't so expensive.

Paddy Livingston, a sentimantal favorite as his T205 was my first T card of any kind, also appeared in T208 to expand his run to 4 in a row. Numerous players in T204 extend to 4 as well.

Jack O'Brien, Jack Goodman, Leach Cross and Young Corbett hold the non-baseball consecutive T card set record at 3 (T218/T219/T220), going off memory. I don't believe any non-sport subject appears in 3 in a row T sets.

[wheatfan]

IMG_2299.jpg

Here's my Zack Wheat T206, 205, and 207.

Favorite thing is the stains on the Polar Bear from being packed in scrap tobacco. Also that they're Zack Wheat. Also that his first name appears three different ways...

I absolutely love the 1960 Fleer (HOF) card they did with him posed like his T205.

[brianp-beme]

Neat info about Bender and Livingstone. I didn't consider the T208 set because it is a fairly rare beast and only features members of the A's (nothing against the team, I swear). And although quite a bit more common than the T208 set, I decided against the T204 because of the differences in size and shape versus T205/T206/T207.

By the way, nice Wheats!

Brian

Originally Posted by G1911

My favorite triple crown is Quinn (already posted), because of his appearance in 1933 Goudey as an active major league player (unlike the Collins, Speaker and Lajoie). He's the only T205/6/7 run I've built intentionally and specifically.

Another cool one is Chief Bender, though I don't have his, because it can extend both ways. Bender appears also in T204 and t208, the only subject to appear in 5 consecutive T card sets by the ACC numbers, I believe. I'd build his run if a T208 wasn't so expensive.

Paddy Livingston, a sentimantal favorite as his T205 was my first T card of any kind, also appeared in T208 to expand his run to 4 in a row. Numerous players in T204 extend to 4 as well.

Jack O'Brien, Jack Goodman, Leach Cross and Young Corbett hold the non-baseball consecutive T card set record at 3 (T218/T219/T220), going off memory. I don't believe any non-sport subject appears in 3 in a row T sets.

[benge610]

Originally Posted by brianp-beme

Any player/team collectors with Tobacco Triple Crowns they would like to share?

Brian

Paddy!!!!



Ben

"I love baseball history backstory; especially when it involves cards."

[trambo]

I think I saw these already but here's my Speaker 3 pack.

[brianp-beme]

Thanks Ben for bringing back this Triple Crown thread, and in a show of appreciation I have thoroughly asterisked up Livingstone in the original post.

And repeats are fine...if Rogers Hornsby and Ted Williams can do it more than once, so can a player be repeated by any of you out there.

Brian

[tedzan]

Arlie Latham

PIEDMONT #42
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TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[brianp-beme]

Without looking into it, Arlie Latham is a real puzzling choice to be a Tobacco Triple Crown recipient, as his playing career ended in the 1890's, except for four games in 1909. But if you check out some of the writeup I excerpted from his SABR biography, you can understand better why he was included in all 3 sets:

Latham’s mischievous behavior on the diamond earned him the name as the “Freshest Man on Earth,” a popular song at that time. Standing only five feet eight inches and never weighing more than 150 pounds, he was never a power hitter but was a great base stealer. In 1887 Latham batted .316 and stole 129 bases. In the playoffs that year he stole 15 bases.

Arlie jockeyed and taunted opposing players not only from the bench but also as a third base coach. At that time there was no coaching box that the third base coach was supposed to stay in, so Arlie took full advantage of it by running up and down the third base line while yelling invectives at the pitcher while he was in the middle of his windup. The rule makers, taking notice of Arlie running up and down the line like a lunatic, soon put into the rules the coaching box. Arlie is reported to have been the first permanent base coach in major league history.

Arlie’s great gymnastic ability paid off from time to time. During one game Arlie laid down a bunt and the opposing team’s first baseman, a big man, was in the baseline with the ball waiting to tag Arlie. Suddenly Arlie did a complete somersault over the startled first baseman and came down safely on the bag. Arlie and the St. Louis team were a pugnacious lot and were greatly encouraged by Von der Ahe to intimidate the other teams. When the league fined them, which was often, Von der Ahe would pay off the fines.

Arlie got into many brawls. At the end of one season he had 20 fights scheduled, five with teammates. The brawling seemed somewhat out of character, for Arlie had a tremendous sense of humor and seemed more of jokester than a fighter.

Pranks and brawls aside, Latham was a legitimate ballplayer. He played 1629 games in the majors, banged out 1836 hits with 27 homers, and scored 1481 runs. His lifetime batting average was only .269, but he was a great base stealer with at lease 742 (stolen base data is still missing for four seasons). Arlie also holds an unenviable record for the most errors lifetime for a third baseman, 822-more than 200 more than any other player. Arlie has a lot of footnotes in the history of baseball, more than most players: First full-time coach; brought into existence the third-base coaching box; oldest man ever to steal a base; and participant in the several of the earliest World Series.

And more fun stuff in his SABR biography (and a dark side too...make sure that guy who tears up cards doesn't get a hold of any of Latham's).

Brian

[tedzan]

Brian....great story on Arlie.

Here's a photo (circa 1952) of a get-together of some great HOFers at Toots Shor's Restaurant in NYC to honor Arlie Latham.







TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[brianp-beme]

I will continue to post these Tobacco Triple Crown players at least once a week, until I run out (got about 6 more). Hopefully there are some more out there that haven't been posted. Feel free to do so, at your leisure.

Here is the Triple of Larry Doyle.

Brian

[brianp-beme]

Sometimes I like to Kling onto a thread that is dangling perilously close to extinction. I only have five Tobacco Triple Crown trios left to give...do your part and post yours on behalf of collectorkind!

Brian

[frohme]

Good thread Brian! Don't know how I missed it before this

My Pirates contributions ...

Dots Miller



and Chief Wilson



The T205's and 6's are no longer mine, but I have fond memories of them.

[brianp-beme]

Originally Posted by frohme

Good thread Brian! Don't know how I missed it before this

My Pirates contributions ...

Dots Miller

and Chief Wilson

Thanks Mike. I especially like how you get a good feel for how Wilson looked like in the three cards...I feel like I would be able to recognize him if he passed me on the street.

Here are another three, this time of Bobby Wallace, that also seem to capture the player's essence.

Brian