W601 - Sporting Life Premiums

[David Atkatz]

There were different versions of the composites. They appeared on the front page of Sporting Life, and if the team changed between the time the magazine appeared, and the premiums were printed, so did the composites.

The 1903 NY American Sporting Life cover version does not show Kid Elberfeld--who didn't join the team until later in the season--while the premium does.

[Vintagecatcher]

I'd like some of the W601 experts to comment on the dating on some of the
W601s.

On the one I recently won in the Clean Sweep Auction, for example, it notes,
"Providence Baseball Club of 1905 Eastern League Champions for 1906."

Is it correct to assume that the composite shows the 1905 Providence Clamdiggers team and that by the time of release the 1906 Providence Grays had just won the 1906 Eastern League title?

I know that some other W601s also have this format, while others just say champions for a particular year. Seems like a strange practice.

http://www.csauctions.com/item.cgi?show_item=0000287541

I look forward to any feedback,

Thanks,

Patrick

[Jacklitsch]

Patrick, that's a great pickup. Sorry I missed it but happy you got it.

These are my "Champions" W601's. They make reference only to the year of being champs.

[rhettyeakley]

Patrick, if the piece says "Champions for 1906" on bottom, the piece pictures the 1905 team. It was common for the team winning the Championship to be referred to as the Champions during the entire next season until a new champion was crowned. Thus your piece is from the 1905 W601 set.
-Rhett

[Vintagecatcher]

Thanks Steve and Rhett for your responses.

I'm excited that I was able to pickup up a Minor League item for Ira Thomas, and it's cool because the 1905 Providence team was known as the Providence Clamdiggers, while the team name changed to Providence Grays in 1906.

Thanks again,

Patrick

[bmarlowe1]

I agree with Rhett. This was common usage in the Sporting Life composites and elsewhere. Don't forget that when the year is given without "champions for" - then it does correctly refer to the year for that team.

[Jacklitsch]

From this I get that "1904 Champions" is a 1905 issue. Correct?

[DixieBaseball]

Here is my New Orleans pick up : Interestingly it shows "New Orleans Baseball Club of 1905" and then says 1906 right below... (All written in the circle)