Connie Mack Woman’s Christian Temperance Union Blotter

Posted on December 1, 2016 by Pre-War Cards

‘It’s In The Details’

Title	Connie Mack Woman’s Christian Temperance Union Blotter
Year	Unknown
Size	3″ x 6″
Images	Black and White
Type	Trade
Number in Set	1

Connie Mack Woman’s Christian Temperance Union Overview

Connie Mack Temperance Union Blotter Ink blotters were generally rectangular cards that were popular in the days of fountain pens. They would usually be kept on desks and were used to allow people to wipe off excess ink. To properly absorb the ink, blotters are generally a little thicker and have a different texture than traditional cards.

This blotter was an advertisement for the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union of Wichita, Kansas. It features a quote from Hall of Fame manager Connie Mack, encouraging people to abstain from alcohol.

The pitch was hardly a flippant one as Mack truly had a strong aversion to alcohol. He famously promised his mother that he wouldn’t drink but ultimately would drink in moderation later. Sometime in the 1910s, this quote was attributed to Mack: “Old man booze has put more men out of the game than all the umpires together.” The quote would soon be picked up by temperance unions and used on marketing materials, such as this. I have seen it referenced on a few different items.

The exact date of this blotter is a little murky. It likely dates to either the 1910s or 1920s but I have not yet been able to confirm that.

While not standard trading cards, blotters with sports figures are absolutely collectible. Because they were used to absorb extra ink, you will often find them with ink spots all over them. Ones that haven’t been covered in ink demand a premium.

Blotters were generally an advertisement for a specific product, service, or organization. Along with a picture of a sports figure or team, they usually sought to promote some type of product or business.