Issued in tins of Fatima brand cigarettes in 1913, the set we refer to as T200 today consists of 16 team photos - eight National and eight American league cards. The cards are printed on glossy photographic paper and are subject to all manner of condition woes due to their fragility. Though cards from the issue appear frequently in hobby auctions, each has a varying degree of scarcity, with some much more difficult to obtain than others. According to the Standard Catalog, the team cards feature 369 different players, managers, and mascots, including some of the most popular and important figures to play the game.
Hall of Fame pitcher Big Ed Walsh and Hall of Fame catcher Ray Schalk appear on this Chicago White Sox team card. While there are two Hall of Famers pictured, there are three players who are banned from baseball. Buck Weaver and Eddie Cicotte were banned for their roles in the 1919 Black Sox Scandal, and while Hal Chase was not a part of the Black Sox Scandal, he was banned for his many infractions of fixing and trying to fix games during his career. 46-year-old backup second baseman Kid Gleason, who was the manager of the 1919 Black Sox team, is pictured, as well.
This Chicago White Sox team card is graded
POOR 1 by SGC due mostly to issues at and near the edges. Wear, some discoloration, some creasing, and some chipping all appear, but the body of the card which features the team image remains strong. Nice bold print with great contrast, showing off the unique navy uniforms and pants the Sox wore at the time. The reverse shows some staining and fading, but this is still a tough example of the T200 Fatima issue.