E254 Colgan's new addition?
 

The Colgan's checklist without projection and minor printing variations is thought to be complete at 289 cards.

I picked up two cards at the National, both picturing Heinie Peitz. The one below is the checklisted version:

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...ps%20Peitz.jpg

I have never seen the second Peitz image (and it is not currently checklisted):

http://photos.imageevent.com/ltsgall...eitz%20_2_.jpg

This would be easily resolved if the second image had a reverse. It has been skinned. The paper exhibits the same consistency as other E254's but I cannot be certain that there was ever any printing on the backside. The card has a slightly irregular cut that can be seen in the scan. It also displays some white areas around the periphery (see about 12 and 2). This is not consistent with other E254's as they were punched from a gray background. This one appears to have been cut from a white background.

Some information regarding Peitz. He played catcher for the Reds and Pirates, finishing with the Pirates in 1906. He went to Louisville following 1906 and was there as a player until 1909. He managed Louisville for part of the 1910 season. Peitz was out organized ball in 1911 and 1912 and returned to manage St. Louis in 1913.

E254's were issued from 1909 to 1911. It would be most logical if the uncataloged piece was issued with the gum that it is an E254 and not an an E270 Tin Top which were issued in 1913.

Other possibilities...a discarded proof or prototype, or maybe a piece of an ad (I would expect it to be much thicker and have a different consistency). One last bit of information...Lew Lipset mentions in a footnote in the BB Card Encyclopedia that two different photos exist for Peitz in the E254's.

Opinions and theories welcome.

John, Cool find!

That being said, I'm thinking the second Pietz is from either some kind of ad or something along those lines. E254 & E270 Tin Tops were punched out from a square photo and not round, as if we were to see off-center cards they would be cut-off like we see all the time with E270 red borders, which were punched out of circular printed photos. I will have to check for the E270 tin top Pietz to see if his photo changed. Colgan's did include "special" ads in Louisville area programs and magazines that were geared directly to the Louisville crowd w/ Louisville players featured. It would be my guess this came from a similar piece, but again this is conjecture.

The things going against this is the hand cut, the obviously round photo that they cut around, and the blank back. Is the paper rough showing evidence that it was skinned? Also, keep in mind the back ink on Colgans IS water soluble so if it were ever soaked for a long period of time the writing on back would be soluble.

Interesting item, I know Tom Boblitt had at one time a cool ad piece from a Louisville score card that showed pictures of many E254's and even included 2 players that were never made until the E270 red border set. Maybe he will provide a photo for us?
-Rhett

Here you go......

http://www.net54baseball.com/picture...pictureid=2487

I have had at least 2-3 different Louisville Colgan's that have similar photos to what the Peitz does. That is, one that takes up the whole front and then one that is like it's shrunk down with a pretty wide space all around the outside. Leads me to think they may have issued some in a couple printings or something or in Louisville in some other capacity. I sold my entire collection lump sum, so I don't have them to look closer into but know that when I had two variations of them, they both had clean backs on them.....neat piece! The attached photo is from a Louisville Colonels home program that I have circa 1910 I believe......

Thanks Tom! Great information. My second Pietz definitely is printed on the same type of paper as the typical E254...just wish it had a back!