Were T215 Pirates distributed?

[ctownboy]

Steve,

Good idea but, in my opionion, probably wouldn't find very many cards, if any.

My reasons why;

1) If the cards were printed in England and given to US soldiers who went to the Philippines and then the cards were left there you have to wonder how well known baseball was in the Philippines 100 years ago. Even if well known, you have to wonder how many people would have actively collected the cards there.

2) Even if there were some people who collected the cards, after 100 years in a place that is hot, humid and prone to typhoons and floods, how many of the limited supply of cards would remain?

Think about Coupon cigarette cards here in the US. Many, if not most, were printed here in the US and distributed around the Louisiana area. Now think about how many of those that remain.

It is probable that many multiples of those were printed, compared to Pirate cigarettes, and distributed here, where baseball was well known, popular and the cards were collected. Yet because of the humidity and the weather, Coupon cards are harder to find than T206's.

Any way, just my thoughts, I could be very wrong. There could be a guy in the Philippines who has thousands of Pirate cigarette baseball cards squirreled away.....

David

[jerseygary]

Baseball caught on pretty good in the Philippines after the insurrection ended. The Manila League was a pretty good circuit with many military teams, including the 25th Infantry team that featured Oscar Charleston among others. The Marines had a very good team in the league and famous General Smedley Butler coached. Most US Navy ships had teams and would play when in port.

I've collected items from sailors stationed in China from the 1900's to the 30's and you'd be suprized by the things they carefully tucked away and brought back home - beer labels, luggage tags, handbills for tailors, etc - all perfectly preserved by tucking them into pages of albums and book. Some of that stuff looks like it was made yesterday, that's why I can see some Pirates surviving in great shape. Perhaps someday I'll find one of them tucked away as well!

I know nothing about the way they were issued, but if they were made by a British company, they most likely weren't sold in the Philippines (where American goods were sold) but in Shanghai, Canton or Hong Kong which were British or British controlled areas and American ships frequently stopped.

[ctownboy]

Gary,

Thank you for that information.

Now, I can see how THAT was possible for cards to be found in great condition. Instead of soldiers getting the cards in England and then going to the Philippines the cards were instead made in England and sold at a port. There, a sailor could have bought them and taken them back on board his ship and kept them in some place safe and dry.

Much more logical.

David

[1880nonsports]

most logical - not ONE of these ever saw the inside of a pack.

[ctownboy]

Yes, most logical is that none of the cards ever were inserted into packs.

However, if people think that they were and that they were sold or otherwise distributed then having them sold or distributed at ports in Asia is more logical than having them sold or distributed in England and then they were carried to the Philippines.

David