1916 Sporting News (M101-4) Blank back

[xplainer]

Among other things, I collect Jimmy Lavender cards. I won't tell the long story on it, but my wife is related to him.

I bought a 1916 M101-4 Blank Back Lavender (SGC 60) a while ago. All the books on pre-war cards tell me there were two issues in 1916 and both had advertisements on the back. This card has a blank back.

Here is a thread about when we went to his grave. The cards in the thread are identical, except mine is number 100 and the back is blank.

http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=202354

Does anyone have info on this issue? SGC says it's legit, but I just want to know more about the card.

Thanks in advance for any info.

-Jimmy

[Jobu]

I am not an M101 expert, but Oldcardboard.com lists 21 known backs, inlcuding blank, for 1916 M101-4. Click on Gallery of Backs under Set Summary:

http://www.oldcardboard.com/m/m101-4...?cardsetID=964

Hope this helps.

[nolemmings]

Jimmy, the Old Cardboard site pretty much covers it. Blank backs are the most common examples of m101-4 and m101-5 cards. Eighteen different sponsors had their ads printed on the backs of the cards, and three placed them on the front of uncut sheets. A complete run of Lavenders from the two sets would likely number 22, with 3 having two cards each(blank, Morehouse Baking and Standard Biscuit) differentiated only by number. However and FWIW, I have confirmed only 11 different to date: Famous & Barr; Standard Biscuit (m101-5); Successful Farming; Herpolsheimer; Indianapolis Brewing; Mall Theatre; Morehouse Baking (m101-4); Sporting News; Weil Baking and the two blank backs. Hope that helps.

[ValKehl]

Todd, might there not also be 2 Lavender cards with the Block & Kuhl, Famous & Barr, Gimbels, and Herpolsheimer backs?
Val

[nolemmings]

Hi Val. No, the only two advertisers that issued full 200 card sets for both m101-4 and m101-5 were Morehouse Baking and Standard Biscuit. Those you mentioned issued hybrid or blended sets that contained cards from each m101-4 and m101-5, but not both.

Edited to add: Technically, there would be two Joe Bush and two Owen/Donie Bush for the B&K, Gimbels and Herpolsheimer sets, and two Mordecai Browns from Famous & Barr. Also, for some mysterious reason F&B produced m101-4 cards for a half dozen players in the #176-183 range. These do not impact Jimmy Lavender's card(s).

[xplainer]

Thanks for the info.
Old cardboard is a good website.