Been doing a lot of reading about late 19th Century and early 20th century tobacco cards lately. Even made the plunge into the expensive waters of T-206 and T-205. Here are my first buys:
'Doc' Merle Theron Adkins (wonder why he went with Doc? Merle Theron is much catchier)
Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles (Eastern league)
16-14 record in 1911.
Like him because he's in the Mickey Lolich school of chubby pitchers, and because of that big BALTIMORE slabbed across his chest.
Hack (Arthur Clyde) Engle, 1B/3B/OF, Boston Red Sox (Americans) 2-48-.270 in 1911 with 24 steals. Love that catcher's mitt at the bottom - looks like an unfrosted layer cake. My card isn't this nice - has some paper damage below his name on the front.
And last, but not least, a T-205 of Fred Merkle, he of Merkle's Boner fame, whose failure to touch second base on a walk off game-winning single by the guy behind him, cost the New York Giants a game in the standings. Instead of beating the Cubs in that game, they tied them, then also tied them for the National League title, then lost the playoff game to determine who went to the World Series. He was only 19 when all that happened.
