Thanks to the generosity of the New York Public Library, we are proud to present a selection of nearly fifty rare tobacco cards from the Library's collections. Larger images have been posted with each players' profile, but as an overview of the entire project thumbnails and links to appropriate pages are indexed below and on the pages that follow.

These cards, known as "T-206 cards," were issued in 1909 by the American Tobacco Company as inserts packaged with the tobacco products advertised on the back of each card. At least one ballplayer did not agree with this arrangement. Pirates' star Honus Wagner was reportedly so infuriated that his likeness was helping to promote tobacco to youngsters that he ordered all of his cards destroyed. Since only 50 are known to exist, the Wagner card is the most sought-after square of cardboard in the world. A mint copy recently fetched over $1 million at auction.

Some of these cards are included in Once Upon A Diamond, a 2001 calendar from Hudson Park Press that also features unique photographs and baseball history from BaseballLibrary.com. To order, click here or contact The Library Shop at the New York Public Library (thelibraryshop.com).

Fred Clarke	Fred Clarke	Ty Cobb	Eddie Collins	Bunk Congalton	Wid Conroy

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Wid Conroy	Hughie Jennings	Hughie Jennings	Walter Johnson	Walter Johnson	Davy Jones

» Click for more cards...

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