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1911 Turkey Reds
13 April 2007
The American Tobacco Company distributed the Turkey Reds (designated T3) in 1911. It is a set of full colored (lithograph) premium cabinet cards similar to the M110 Sporting Life series. The cards were originally issued in panels. Loaded with hall of fame players, the set is one of the most desired by early card collectors and is probably one of the easier cabinet sets to complete. Each card measures 5-3/4" by 8".
Advertising Turkey Red, Fez, and Old Mill cigarettes, the T3 cards were given in exchange for coupons that were circulated in packs of the three brands of cigarettes. The are simply referred to as Turkey Reds, or Turkey Red Cabinets, since that is the only brand advertised on the card backs.
There are 126 numbered, chromolithographed, hand-colored cards in the set: 100 baseball players and 25 boxers. Numbers 1-50 and 77-126 (which feature baseball players) are Turkey Reds. Numbers 51-76 feature boxers - a subset known as the T9.
Five of the baseball cards can be found with variations, bringing the total of the complete set to 131. They are Harry McIntyre (#28), Vic Willis (#40), Mickey Doolan (#90), Dod Paskert (#112), and Fred Tenney (#122).
Turkey Reds represent one of the first 20th century sets ever offered through the mail. Cigarette smokers (and others, of course) could send the manufacturer 10 of the special coupons found (1 per pack) inside packs of Turkey Red cigarettes, or 25 each from Fez or Old Mill cigarettes in exchange for one Turkey Red cabinet card.
These cards can be found today with two different backs. One has a Turkey Red advertisement on it while the other contains a checklist. The advertisement shows a picture of a box of Turkey Red cigarettes diagonally positioned at the top half of the card, along with the words, "Popular name, Popular quality, Popular Price. ‘Nothing succeeds like success’ TURKEY RED CIGARETTES 10c for 10." 
Also shown, at the lower left corner is "It’s the Blend".
The checklist backs show the card number at the top. The words, "PROMINENT BASE BALL PLAYERS & ATHLETES ORDER BY NUMBER ONLY". A listing of the players in the set is outlined in three columns directly below that. At the bottom of the card beneath the checklist is, "Any one of the above named pictures given in exchange for 10 coupons from Turkey Red Cigarettes or 25 Coupons from either Old Mill or Fez Cigarettes. Send coupons by Mail or express, charges prepaid to BASE BALL AND ATHLETE DEPT., DRAWER S., JERSEY CITY, N.J. This offer expires June 20, 1911."
The fronts depict action poses of the baseball player inside a picture frame with a thick gray border. Centered inside the lower frame border is a yellow plaque containing the player’s name (in capital letters) and team.
Hall of Fame players in the Turkey Reds set are Mordecai Brown (#1), Roger Bresnahan (#4), Sam Crawford (#5), Fred Clarke (#8), Ty Cobb (#9), Johnny Evers (#16), Clarke Griffith (#17), Hugh Jennings (#18), Addie Joss (#19), Nap Lajoie (#23), John McGraw (#26), Christy Mathewson (#27), Joe Tinker (#35), Tris Speaker (#36), Rube Waddell (#39), Cy Young (#42), Frank Chance (#47), Frank Baker (#78), Chief Bender (#80), Eddie Colins (#87), Walter Johnson (#99), Wee Willie Keeler (#101), Bobby Wallace (#124), and Ed Walsh (#125).
Several Turkey Reds have variations. Card # 28 Harry McIntyre is shown with a team name of Brooklyn on some cards, while Brooklyn and Chicago are shown on others. Card # 40 Vic Willis can be found with just Pittsburgh, or with Pittsburgh and St. Louis. Card # 90 Mickey Doolan can be found with "Doolin" or "Doolan" (Doolan being the correct name). Card # 112 Dode Paskert can be found with Cincinnati, or Cincinnati and Philadelphia. And finally, card #122 Fred Tenney shows either New York, or New York and Boston.
A common card today can be had for less than $100, while the complete set in excellent to near mint condition could set you back $100,000.
Here are some images from the famous Benjamin K. Edwards collection at the Library of Congress, starting with the advertisement card:
3 Responses to ' 1911 Turkey Reds '
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on June 28th, 2007 at 9:26 pm
I have in Excellent condition
the original 1911 Turkey Red Devlin, Camnitz, Leach, Elberfeld, Crawford, Bresnahan, Bergen, and Brown cards. I am looking to sell them. Please email me if interested.
on August 25th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
I’m interested, if they’re still around!
mbraun@ameritech.netnet
remove last “net”
on September 14th, 2008 at 9:23 am
what r u lookin to get for your turkey red cards