Another T206 once owned by hobby luminary Charles Bray enters my modest collection of beautiful Monsters. It was purchased for a very reasonable sum from an REA auction many moons ago and the funky cut was most definitely a big draw.
Ira Thomas grew up a mile from Abner Doubleday's birthplace; won multiple World Series with the Philadelphia Athletics under the tutelage of Connie Mack; was the personal catcher in Philly for both Eddie Plank and Chief Bender; invested in oil and real estate; and approached high pop-ups in foul territory "like a chicken with the blind-staggers" according to one observer.