Old Cardboard eNews #126 - Lections Write-Up

[nolemmings]

Interesting. Seems there is about a four-month window when these would have been printed, none of which were during the baseball season.

While some of the lore surrounding these cards makes sense on the surface, I'm not sure it is supportable by facts. I believe the prevailing theory is that they were distributed to kids during election season while adults received similar cards of candidates, presumably in New York. However, I believe most major elections occur in even-numbered years, and a quick Google search showed a wiki article stating that only one state race (for appeals judge) took place in New York at the State level in 1923, and that only one mayoral race (in LA) took place that year. Also, there would have been very little time to print these from October 23 before the election was held in November. Finally, the political card used by OC in its article shows the mayor who was elected in 1926, although I suppose he could have run unsuccessfully the prior term. So 1923 seems dubious as being election related, and issuing them in February 1924 or sooner for an election more than a half-year away seems unlikely as well.

One other theory is that these were handed out in Albany during a State or County Fair. This would explain why they are almost always found beat up,as kids had rides and other things to do while in possession of these cards for the day. Still, the fair in New York at least now is held in late Summer, and while ours here in AZ is currently winding up, I have to believe that the fairs in the North during 1923--State or County-- would have been concluded before late October when the weather turns colder. If they were part of the fair, any distribution date of Oct-Feb (when Chance card was printed) is very unlikely.

EDITED to add: Albany mayoral race was in 1922 and 1926, so a card of mayor Thacher would not have been part of any contemporaneous issue with Lections baseball cards.

[GasHouseGang]

When REA was selling the highest graded Ruth from the "set" in 2010, they posted the following information:


The following information provided by Jon Canfield can be “taken to the bank” and finally explains with certainty exactly how the Lections card set was really issued! “I note in the auction that the general belief is that the cards were issued as a candy premium. I can actually confirm that is not the case. I purchased an original near set of Lections from an original owner. The man I purchased the cards from recalled the story to me of his acquiring them as a boy. In the early 1920's, he attended a fair with his father. The fair was in Albany, NY. His father visited many of the "politician podiums" where local officials running for office would give speeches and shake hands with the crowd. The adults who watched these mini rally's were given Election cards showing the candidate (I have these too and can scan them for you later). [Note: For reference, a scan has been posted online]. The children who accompanied the parents to the fair where instead given a "Lection" card by the candidates depicting a baseball player.” Thanks to Jon Canfield for taking the time to share this valuable information with us. It is greatly appreciated!

[nolemmings]

I remember that. I am simply dubious as to its accuracy, for reasons I just stated. I suppose its possible that these either were produced looong in advance of the 1924 elections and that they didn't bother to change out Frank Chance's card. I highly doubt they related to any election in 1923, or that they were given out in any fair the last two months of that year. I would think that 1924 was a longshot, but that would at a minimum change the date of issue to the summer of that year. Since Chance died in September 1924 after a lengthy and well-known illness, it seems kind of ghoulish to me that they would have proceeded with distributing his card after or even near his death. But yes, I had heard the Canfield "confirmation". Sorry for being skeptical.

[Leon]

I would hypothesize they might have been given out over a number of years.

John Boyd Thacher II (October 26, 1882 – April 25, 1957) was the Mayor of Albany, New York from 1926 to 1941. He was the nephew of Albany mayor John Boyd Thacher and grandson of another Albany mayor, George H. Thacher.