Item Description:
You are bidding on a Professionally Graded FRANK CHANCE 1909-11 T206 Piedmont 150 RED PORTRAIT SGC 2 CHICAGO CUBS HOF. Decently Centered, sharp example for the grade! A very nice specimen from the 1909-11 T206 White Border Tobacco card set, one of the most widely collected sets of all time.
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About The Set:
The 1909-11 T206 White Border tobacco 523 card set is arguably the most sought after and collected baseball card set produced prior to 1950. The white border tobacco cards were produced by multiple tobacco brands, and used as a marketing scheme to sell cigarettes and tobacco products. Each individual tobacco company printed their name/insignia on the back of the card. The most common backs are from Piedmont and Sweet Caporal. Other backs were less common and command a higher value, depending on the rarity of the card/brands printed on the back.
Back scarcity rankings from T206resource . org
(from Wikipedia):
T206
The tobacco card set known as T206 was issued from 1909 to 1911 in cigarette and loose tobacco packs through 16 different brands owned by the American Tobacco Company. It is a landmark set in the history of baseball card collecting, due to its size, rarity, and the quality of its color lithographs.
History
The name T206 refers to the catalog designation assigned by Jefferson Burdick in his book The American Card Catalog. It is also known informally as the "White Border" set due to the distinctive white borders surrounding the lithographs on each card.
The T206 set consists of 523 cards. Over 100 of the cards picture minor league players. There are also multiple cards for the same player in different poses, different uniforms, or even with different teams after being traded (since the set was issued over a period of three years). The cards measure 1-7/16" x 2-5/8" which is considered by many collectors to be the standard tobacco card size.
The T206 set is the most popular and widely collected set of the tobacco/pre-war era. The historical significance of the set as well as the large number of variations give it enormous appeal to collectors. In addition, the set features many Baseball Hall of Fame members including Ty Cobb (who is pictured on 4 different cards), Walter Johnson, Cy Young, and Christy Mathewson. The value of the cards has led to a great deal of counterfeiting over the years. The T206 Collection: The Players & Their Stories by Tom and Ellen Zappala and Peter Randall Publishers highlights the personal and professional lives of the players in the collection and discusses the values of the cards as well as the mystique behind the collection.
The Honus Wagner card
The T206 Wagner is the most valuable baseball card in existence, and even damaged examples are valued at $100,000 or more.[1] This is in part because of Wagner's place among baseball's immortals, as he was an original Hall of Fame inductee. More importantly, it is one of the scarcest cards from the most prominent of all vintage card sets.
Rarity
It is estimated that between 50 and 200 Wagner cards were ever distributed to the public,[2][3] and fewer still have survived to the present day. Several theories exist as to why the card is so rare. One theory is that the printing plate used to create Wagner's card broke early on in the production process, but Wagner was a major star at the time and new plates would almost certainly have been created. Another theory is that there was a copyright dispute between the American Tobacco Company and the artist who created the Wagner lithograph.[4]
The most commonly accepted theory is that the card was pulled from production because Wagner himself objected to the production of the card, but his motivation is unclear. Reports at the time indicated Wagner did not wish to associate himself with cigarettes,[5] possibly because he did not want to encourage children to smoke.[1] However, some collectors and historians have pointed out that Wagner, a user of chewing tobacco, allowed his image to appear on cigar boxes and other tobacco-related products prior to 1909 and may have objected to the card simply because he wanted more financial compensation for the use of his image.[1][6]
Value
A high-quality example of the Wagner card was sold at auction on eBay in 2000 for US$1.265 million.[2] In February 2007, the same card was sold for a record US$2.35 million.[7] In September 2007, the Wagner card changed hands again when SCP Auctions of Mission Viejo, California, which had bought minority ownership, brokered a new sale—this time for US$2.8 million, to a private collector. On August 1, 2008, noted memorabilia dealer John Rogers of North Little Rock, Arkansas paid US$1.6 million for a PSA 5 Wagner. Rogers stated he "was prepared to go much higher and is pleased with his investment." He added "the citizens of Arkansas deserve to see this treasure and I intend to make the card available to the public."[8]
In November 2010, a group of nuns from Baltimore sold a Wagner card for $262,000 in auction to Doug Walton, a sporting card store owner.[9]
Brands that produced T206 cards
T206 cards were issued with 16 different backs, representing the 16 different brands of cigarettes/tobacco with which the cards were issued. Due to the same card having different backs, there are actually far more than 523 "different" T206 cards. The actual number of front/back combination is not fully known as collectors still discover new combinations from time to time. The 16 backs are:
- American Beauty – more thinly cut than other brands due to the narrower size of the cigarette packs
- Broadleaf
- Carolina Brights
- Cycle
- Drum
- El Principe De Gales
- Hindu – Found in both brown ink and red ink (rare)
- Lenox – Found in both brown ink and black ink
- Old Mill
- Piedmont
- Polar Bear – Only brand that is not cigarettes; Polar Bear was loose tobacco, also known as scrap tobacco
- Sovereign
- Sweet Caporal
- Tolstoi
- Ty Cobb
- Uzit
Frank Chance
| Frank Chance | |
|---|---|
| First baseman / Manager | |
| Born: September 9, 1876 Salida, California | |
| Died: September 15, 1924 (aged 48) Los Angeles, California | |
| Batted: Right | Threw: Right |
| MLB debut | |
| April 29, 1898 for the Chicago Orphans | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| April 21, 1914 for the New York Yankees | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .296 |
| Stolen bases | 401 |
| Runs batted in | 596 |
| Teams | |
|
As Player As Manager | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Member of the National | |
| Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 1946 |
| Election Method | Veterans Committee |
Frank Leroy Chance (September 9, 1876 – September 15, 1924) was an American professional baseball player. A first baseman, Chance played in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs (initially named the "Orphans") and New York Yankees from 1898 through 1914. He also served as manager of the Cubs, Yankees, and Boston Red Sox.
Discovered by the Cubs as he played semi-professional baseball while attending college, Chance debuted with the Cubs in 1898, serving as a part-time player. In 1903, Chance became the Cubs' regular first baseman, and in 1905, he succeeded Frank Selee as the team's manager. Chance led the Cubs to four National League championships in the span of five years (1906–1910), and won the World Series championships in 1907 and 1908. With Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers, Chance formed a strong double play combination, which was immortalized as "Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance" in "Baseball's Sad Lexicon".
Let go by the Cubs after the 1912 season, Chance signed with the Yankees, serving as a player–manager for two seasons. He joined the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League as a player–manager, returning to MLB in 1923 as manager of the Red Sox. Chance was named the manager of the Chicago White Sox in 1924, but never took control of the team as he became ill. He died later that year.
Noted for his leadership abilities, Chance earned the nickname "Peerless Leader". He is the all-time leader in managerial winning percentage in Cubs history. Chance was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in the 1946 balloting by the Veterans Committee, along with Tinker and Evers.
Early life
Chance was born in Salida, California, in Stanislaus County, on September 9, 1876. His family was of English and Scottish descent.[1] He was raised in Fresno, California,[2] and attended Fresno High School.[3] His father was president of the first national bank in Fresno.[1]
Chance enrolled at the University of California, where he pursued a degree in dentistry.[3] He transferred to Washington College in Irvington, California. While playing baseball for the school's baseball team, he received an offer to play semi-professional baseball for a team in Sullivan, Illinois, for $40 a month ($1,117 in current dollar terms), which he accepted.[1]
Returning to college the next year, Chance led his team to a third place finish in an amateur tournament of 50 teams.[1] Bill Lange of the Chicago Cubs discovered Chance and convinced the Cubs to sign him as a backup catcher and outfielder,[3][1] receiving $1,200 a year ($33,523 in current dollar terms).[1] Chance was scouted by other teams, but chose the Cubs as Tim Donohue was the only catcher ahead of him on the Cubs' depth chart.[1]
Career
Chicago Cubs
Chance began his career in 1898 with the Chicago Cubs, serving as a reserve catcher and outfielder. He played irregularly through the 1902 season. Due in part to finger injuries suffered while catching, Chance played in no more than 75 games in a season through 1902.[3] In 1903, Johnny Kling became the Cubs' full-time catcher. As Bill Hanlon, the Cubs' first baseman, left the team, manager Frank Selee moved Chance to first base. Though Chance initially balked at the position change, he agreed when he received a pay raise.[3]
In 125 games during the 1903 season, Chance recorded a .327 batting average, and 67 stolen bases; both of these marks led the National League (NL). His .439 on-base percentage was third-best in the league, behind Roy Thomas and Roger Bresnahan, and his 81 runs batted in (RBIs) tied Jake Beckley for sixth-best.[3] Chance had a .310 batting average in 1904, good for sixth place in the NL. His .382 on-base percentage was the fourth-best in the league, and his .430 slugging percentage was fifth-best. Chance also hit six home runs, tying him with Dan McGann, Red Dooin, and Cozy Dolan for third place, his 42 stolen bases tied McGann for fourth place, and his 89 runs scored were seventh-best.[4] In a doubleheader against Cincinnati that year, Chance was hit by a pitch an incredible five times.
Selee fell ill in 1905, and Chance was selected to succeed him as manager.[3] That year, he also batted .316 with 92 runs scored and 70 RBIs. His batting average was sixth-best in the NL, while he led the league with a .450 on-base percentage, and finished seventh with a .434 slugging percentage. His 38 stolen bases were sixth-best in the league.[5] In 1906, Chance batted .319 and led the NL in runs scored (103) and stolen bases (57). His batting average was fifth-best in the league, while his .419 on-base percentage finished in third, and his .430 slugging percentage placed him in fifth.[6] When Chance stole home from second base in a tie game against the Cincinnati Reds, team owner Charles W. Murphy granted him a ten-percent ownership stake in the club to show his gratitude. Chance later sold his share of the franchise for approximately $150,000.[3] Meanwhile, The Cubs won 116 games during the 1906 season, taking the NL pennant.[3][7] The Chicago White Sox of the American League defeated the Cubs in the 1906 World Series.[8]
Chance batted .293 during the 1907 season, finishing sixth in the NL, while his .395 on-base percentage was third-best. He tied Ed Abbaticchio for seventh with 35 stolen bases.[9] The Cubs returned to the World Series in 1907. Though Chance only batted .154 in the 1907 World Series, the Cubs defeated the Tigers in four games.[10]
Chance began to decline during the 1908 season. Though he finished third in the NL with 27 doubles, he did not finish among the ten best in the categories of batting average, on-base percentage, or stolen bases in 1908, 1909, or 1910.[11][12][13] Chance batted .425 in the 1908 World Series, as the Cubs again defeated the Tigers, this time in five games.[14]
By 1910, Chance began to groom Fred Luderus as his successor at first base.[15] He rebuilt the team after the departures of Evers and Harry Steinfeldt.[16] The Cubs returned to the World Series in 1910, against the Philadelphia Athletics. Chance batted .353 in the 1910 World Series, though the Athletics won the series in five games.[17] Chance was the first player ever ejected from a World Series game, doing so in game three. Chance continued to transition himself out of the Cubs' lineup in 1911, as he played in only 31 games.[3]
New York Yankees
In 1912, Chance endured surgeries to correct blood clots in his brain that were caused by being hit by pitches in his head. Meanwhile, Chance argued with Murphy, who had been releasing expensive players from the Cubs in an effort to save the team money.[3] The New York Yankees negotiated for Chance's release from the Cubs after the 1912 season.[18] The Cubs released Chance while he was hospitalized,[3] and in January 1913, Chance signed a three year contract with the Yankees, worth $120,000 ($2,821,818 in current dollar terms), to serve as the Yankees' manager.[19] He also played first base for the Yankees[20] and served as field captain, though he played in no more than 12 games in a season.[3] The Yankees sat in last place on the next-to-last day of the 1913 season, but won their final game to finish in seventh place.[21] In 1914, Chance named Roger Peckinpaugh the Yankees' new captain.[22]
After struggling during the 1914 season, Chance criticized the talent brought to him by Yankees scout Arthur Irwin. He offered his resignation from the team late in the season on the condition that he still was to receive his 1915 salary.[23] After this was accepted by team owner Frank J. Farrell, Chance resigned with three weeks remaining in the season, and Peckinpaugh served as player–manager for the remainder of the season;[24][25]
Later career
Chance returned to his native California, and was named manager of the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League in 1916.[26] Chance won the league championship in 1916. He resigned with the Angels for the 1917 season,[27] and was also granted a part ownership in the Angels from the majority owner, John F. Powers. Powers and Chance remained good friends for the rest of his life. He resigned during the 1917 season due to his declining health.[28] He then served as president of the California Winter League, continuing to instill discipline in players: he fined Ty Cobb for "abusing an umpire".[29]
Chance managed the Boston Red Sox in 1923.[30] The Red Sox did not retain Chance after the season.[31] He was named the Chicago White Sox manager for the following season[32] but developed severe influenza before he could take the helm. He soon developed other respiratory complications, including asthma.[33] Chance submitted his resignation to owner Charles Comiskey, but Comiskey refused to accept it, giving him the opportunity to return to the team when his health improved.[34] He returned to Chicago briefly in April,[35] but was unable to take charge of the team.[33] Chance returned to Los Angeles where he underwent emergency surgery in April 1924. Evers was named the White Sox acting manager for the 1924 season.[36]
Player summary
Chance was part of the trio of infielders remembered for their double-play ability, with Joe Tinker and Johnny Evers. The trio were immortalized as "Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance", also known as "Baseball's Sad Lexicon," written by the 28-year-old New York Evening Mail newspaper columnist Franklin Pierce Adams in July 1910,.[37][38] Chance helped Evers develop an underhanded throw.[39]
Chance took over as Chicago's manager in 1905. His playing time decreased towards the end of the decade. The Cubs won the NL pennant in 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1910, and won the World Series in 1907 and 1908, to date, the Cubs' last World Series victory. He became the highest paid player in baseball, earning as much as $25,000 ($623,571 in current dollar terms) in 1910.[40]
Chance's lifetime record as a manager was 946–648 (.593 winning percentage); his .667 winning percentage as manager of the Cubs is the highest in franchise history.[3] As a player, Chance is the Cubs' all-time career leader in stolen bases, with 400. He led the Cubs in batting average in 1903, 1904, 1905 and 1907. In World Series play, Chance batted .310, recording 22 hits, scoring 11 runs, and stealing 10 bases.[3]
Personal
Chance preached moderation in socializing, including avoiding alcohol.[41] He was a disciplinarian.[42] Chance fined his players for shaking hands with members of the opposing team, and forced Solly Hofman to delay his wedding until after the baseball season, lest marriage impair his abilities on the playing field.[3]
During the baseball offseasons, Chance worked as a prizefighter. James J. Corbett and John L. Sullivan, among the best fighters of the era, both considered Chance "the greatest amateur brawler of all time."[3]
Chance owned a ranch in Glendora, California, which he sold prior to becoming manager of the Red Sox.[43]
Chance died at age 48. He was survived by his mother and sister.[44] Chance was interred in the Angelus-Rosedale Cemetery, Los Angeles, California. His death was greatly mourned, and his funeral received widespread publicity in Los Angeles and Chicago. Among his pallbearers were Barney Oldfield, noted race car driver and close friend, and good friend John Powers.[45] His estate was $170,000.[46]
Honors
After missing the Hall of Fame by seven votes in 1945,[47] Chance was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946.[48] Chance was also elected to the Fresno Athletic Hall of Fame.[49]
There was a baseball field in Fresno named after Chance, open from 1935 to 1941. Joe DiMaggio played in the first ever game at Frank Chance Field.[49] Retired players participated in an exhibition game in Chance's honor in 1937.[50] John McGraw, a contemporary and rival of Chance, considered Chance one of the greatest players he ever saw.[51]
The Frank L. Chance Research Fellowship Foundation honors his memory.[52]
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