A perfect game of baseball with cards!

Thomas William Lawson (1857-1925) was a true Renaissance man with a rags to riches story. He is not that well known, but was a self-made man, born to Canadian immigrant parents in Massachusetts.  His father was a carpenter and died when Thomas was 8.  Lawson had to leave school after his father's death and worked various odd jobs through his younger life.  Eventually he became a very successful stockbroker and author, but died penniless through being too opinionated and wanting to expose the truth of corruption in large trusts and corporations.

While he was a youth he worked as a "candy butcher" on trains in Boston selling candy, tobacco and newspapers.  He saved up his money and invented a card game with a baseball theme. Lawson received a patent on September 16, 1884 and sold packs of the baseball game cards for 50 cents each at new stands and stationary stores. Six different versions of the baseball game were created: 3 common blue-backed sets, 1 maroon-backed set with gold edges and 2 rare games made for companies in Boston.

Lawson's baseball card game was such a success that in 1885 he arranged for a promotional tournament of 8 National League clubs which were played by real members of the baseball teams over the time period of their regular seasons. Lawson posted the prizes himself including, "$1,600 in handsome trophies." Winners of early rounds were awarded cash prizes and an "elegant" silver ball.  The champions of the baseball card game were to be awarded $500 and a silver bat. The game received as much publicity as the baseball players' actual games.  All the results of the tournament are known except for the final championship game between Philadelphia and Chicago.  The players on the Philadelphia team were reserve catcher Tony Cusick and right fielder Jack Manning vs. Chicago players, second baseman Fred Pfeffer, an excellent faro player and the popular third baseman Ned Williamson, a master at Whist.