Harry Pulliam has an ignominous place in baseball history. Named President of the National League in 1903 it was Pulliam's controversial decision related to the "Merkle Boner" in 1908 that ultimately awarded the victory to the Chicago Cubs who won the pennant and the World Series. It is said that the pressure of that decision cased Pulliam to take time away from work and even consider leaving his position. Ultimately Pulliam committed suicide in his office at just 40 years of age devastating the baseball community. To commemorate Pulliam's ascension to the post of National League president a Pulliam brand of cigars was issued. Experts agree that the cigars themselves were issued for just one year 1903. This collection includes a cigar box label and an extremely scarce Pulliam cigar band. Both are in outstanding condition and they have been professionally presented in a handsome frame with a typewritten history of the Merkle Boner presented to a youngster by "Uncle Barry." The true scarcity in this lot lies in the cigar band. Only scarce evidence points to the Pulliam cigars having ever existed - an empty box that came to auction some years ago an actual cigar with band that made its way to auction as part of a lot a decade ago and the occasional cigar band. Produced on ornate gold foil with the name and likeness of Pulliam in the center the colorful embossed band features various baseball-related accents. Among baseball tobbacianna collectors a Pulliam cigar band is a rare commidity and paired with the box label represent a stellar example of tobacco-related baseball advertising as well as a window into a sad period in the game's history.