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1910 Old Mill Cigarettes - T210 Otto Mills - Shreveport Pirates, Texas League - SGC 2
On the Player and Team- Based on the limited historical records available, Otto Mills, possibly referred to as Oliver Mills, had a career in minor league baseball as both a player and manager during the early 20th century. In 1910, Mills was a member of the Shreveport Pirates in the Texas League, where he played as an outfielder. Later that same year, he assumed the role of manager for the Vicksburg Hill Climbers, taking over from Bruce Hayes mid-season, and continued to manage the team through the 1911 and 1912 seasons. In 1913, Mills achieved notable success as a manager, guiding the Jackson Lawmakers in the Cotton States League to an impressive first-place record of 71 wins and 24 losses.
As an outfielder during his playing career from 1910 to 1913, Mills had a standout season in 1911 when he led the Cotton States League in both runs scored (87) and hits (155). He boasted an impressive batting average of .348, along with a slugging percentage of .542. Notably, during his time with the Shreveport Pirates in 1910, the team secured 75 victories, contrasting with 66 losses.
On the Set - The 1910 Old Mill T210 set is the largest 20th century tobacco-issued baseball series, with 640 player cards spread across eight different series, one series each for eight different minor leagues. Each card is a tobacco standard size, 1-1/2” x 2-5/8”. The T210 set is identifiable due to its distinctive red borders surrounding a sepia likeness of the player. The player’s surname and team are noted in black print at the card bottom. Card backs include identification of the series number, the Old Mill Cigarettes brand name, and the tagline “Base Ball Subjects - Large Assortment.”
