perhaps a little insight into the T206 Wagner genesis

[Archive]

Posted By: Ted Zanidakis

Bill Heitman (T206 - The Monster) confirms my earlier
observation that Magie exists only with a Piedmont 150
Subjects back.

Now, before we proceed; "150 Subjects" tells us that
the first press runs of T206's included 150 different
players in this 1st series (actually it was 156 diff.).
The sheets comprising this 1st series probably rolled
off the presses in arrays of 50, 100, or 150 cards.
You can bet that all the major players from the 1908 BB
season were included in this 1st printing (e.g., Cobb,
Matty, Johnson, Plank, Wagner, and yes Sherwood Magee).

Now my theory is in the form of the following scenerio:
At every printing facility there is some form of Quality
Control (QC) and when this 1st series was printed there
were the usual initial production flaws. One we do know;
it was the miss-spelling of Magee. Furthermore, Wagner
(as the story goes) did not want to be associated with
tobacco products. So, QC decides to dispose of most
of the sheets in this initial press run.

Of course a very few of these sheets got cut down into
cards that did find their way into tobacco packs. Recent
surveys tell us there are approximately the same number
of Wagner's as Magie error cards; and, there is about
twice as many Planks. Of course we know that Plank was
also in the 350 Series.

Additionally, in the 150 Series are some of the semi-
tough cards like G. Brown (Chi), M. Brown (Cubs), Burch
(batting), Donlin (fielding), Evers (Cubs), Pattee, Pelty
(horiz), and Reulbach (Cubs).

Finally, I'll close by noting that the 1956 Pitt Pirates
Yearbook has a picture of Wagner with a lit Cigar in his
hand.