George "Hooks" Wiltse B18 Baseball Tobacco Blanket Flannel, c. 1914, NY Giants. 5" Flannel Square

This is an original baseball blanket/flannel that features George "Hooks" Wiltse, the star left-handed pitcher for the New York Giants.

Mr. Wiltse pitched for the Giants from 1904-1914, and one year for the Brooklyn Tip-Tops, 1915. He was a teammate of Christy Mathewson and played on five pennant-winning teams. He pitched a no-hitter on July 4th, 1908 and compiled a 139-90 lifetime record.

These flannel fabrics came to be known as blankets, as they were often sewn together to form a blanket. There were approximately 180 in the set. This listing is for the 1 square pictured

Jefferson Burdick designated them as B18 in his book, The American Card Catalog. They feature the player's surname beneath the depiction of the player.

They were issued either in an envelope or wrapped around the cigarette package and held with a strip of paper. The brand of cigarettes was Egyptienne Straights, made by the American Tobacco Company. Mr. Burdick dated them to circa 1912, and many reference books identify them as 1914.

Condition as shown. Some fraying at edge and general wear associated with aging. Square measures 5 inches by 5.5 inches.