Set Description:
The catalog designation T212 actually encompasses three separate minor league sets (listed in sequence in the checklist below). Each card measures 1 7/16" by 2 5/8". Set 1 (1-76) features 76 colored player cards representing six PCL teams and was issued in 1909. The obverse captions are stylized (slanted), and the word "Obak" on the reverse is inscribed in "Old English" letters. Set 2 contains 175 colored cards (77-251) of players from six PCL and four NWL teams. The captions are not slanted, and "Obak" appears in large block letters on the back. Reverses advertise either "150" or "175" subjects, and some 35 different slogans exist. The backs of sets 1 and 2 are printed in blue. In contrast, the 1911 set of 175 colored cards has red-printed backs which contain a short biography and some statistics (252-426). The PCL and NWL are each represented by six teams in this set. Note that there is a Portland club in each league. The Obak brand was produced and distributed in California by a branch of the American Tobacco Company. Cards are ordered below alphabetically within team. Type 1 consists of Los Angeles (1-8), Oakland (9-22), Portland (23-33), Sacramento (34-46), San Francisco (47-62) and Vernon (63-76). Type 2 consists of Los Angeles (77-96), Oakland (97-113), Portland (114-132), Sacramento (133-151), San Francisco (152-172), Vernon (173-188), Seattle NWL (189-204), Spokane NWL (205-219), Tacoma NWL (220-235) and Vancouver NWL (236-251). Type 3 consists of Los Angeles (252-268), Oakland (269-287), Portland PCL (288-303), Sacramento (304-320), San Francisco (321-339), Vernon (340-358), Portland NWL (359-368), Seattle NWL (369-380), Spokane NWL (381-392), Tacoma NWL (393-403), Vancouver NWL (404-415), and Victoria NWL (416-426). While it is possible that it is unique; an album featuring 175 cards has surfaced.
