- Series: 1880s: Diamond Duos
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Quakers
- League: National League
Buster Hoover:
William James Hoover (1863-1924) was a prime example of players from the beginning of baseball who could shine at the amateur or minor league level and fail when up against the true elites of the game. In Buster’s case, the exception (the Union Association of 1884) proves the rule. That is where Hoover began in the “majors” but was really playing against minor-league caliber opponents. He wowed, hitting .364 (2nd in the league), third in OBP and slugging. Then that quixotic misadventure ended and the players had to find real homes. Buster’s was still in Philadelphia with Harry Wright’s Quakers where he hit .190. After years mostly in the minors (where he often excelled, averaging .306 over 11 seasons) he got a shot with the Orioles and hit .217. Finally, the Cincinnati Reds gave him a try in 1892: 14 games, .176. Hoover finished up hitting .305 for the Troy Washerwomen in 1894.
- Bill James has thoroughly analyzed the quality of the Union Association and found that it, like the anonymous Wisconsin dairy, could have embraced the motto: “Our Best Is None Too Good”
Ed Andrews:
George Edward Andrews (1859-1934) was an outfielder for the Philadelphia Quakers from 1884-89 before becoming caught up in the turbulence of the early ‘90s when leagues and teams were forming and folding with abandon. He played the last year of the Indianapolis Hoosiers’ franchise in 1889, then for the Players’ League (John Montgomery) Ward’s Wonders of Brooklyn in 1890 and (Mike “King”) Kelly’s Killers in Cincinnati in 1891, his last season in the majors. Andrews’ lifetime batting average was .257 with more hits (830) than games played (774).
- The speedy Andrews stole 35+ bases three times, including a NL-leading 56 in 1886
- The Ohio native was a rare college graduate in the early days of baseball, an alumnus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland
Auction History
Cartophilia
Old Judge Pose: 9-6
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Quakers
- League: National League
William Wilson Hallman (1867-1920) enjoyed a fine 14-year career, primarily as a second-baseman. He played mostly in Philadelphia and mostly as a Philly. His best years were 1892-97 where he hit .292, .307, .312, .314, .320, and .262. Versatility and durability were the Hallman hallmarks: he had the ability to help out at any position and played all nine including one game as a pitcher in 1896. Bill set two records a decade apart: leading the American Association in games played in 1891 and the National League in sacrifices in 1901. After ten years in the City of Brotherly Love, Bill found a little less love with the Browns, Bridegrooms and Blues where his average never got to .250. He returned for his final three years back with the Phils. For two years, 1901 and '03, there were two Bill Hallmans in the majors as his nephew, nine years his junior, played outfield in the new American League with Milwaukee and Chicago.
- Over his 14 years in the big leagues, Hallman averaged .272 with a .675 OPS
- Speaking of durability, Bill's baseball life was far from over when he left Philadelphia in '03. He went on to play for ten more clubs in various leagues, retiring at 42
- Hallman's uniform color in this card was changed from black to blue/red in March, 2017 to reflect recent reliable research conducted by Craig Brown and friends at Threads of Our Game. Two cards had been previously released featuring a black uniform.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Detroit
- Team: Wolverines
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Permanent Outtake: Alternate batting pose.
After finding an alternate pose with better detail, I retired this version and made a new one. You can find the new card here.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Kansas City
- Team: Cowboys
- League: American Association
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Permanent Outtake: Alternate batting pose.
After finding an alternate pose with better detail, I retired this version and made a new one. You can find the new card here.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Chicago
- Team: White Stockings
- League: National League
William Forrest Hutchinson (1859-1926) played primarily for Chicago over his 9 seasons and still ranks high in Cub franchise history in several pitching categories. He is tops in complete games with 317 and 2nd in innings pitched. He was the 1890 NL saves champion and league champ in wins three times.
- Played 2 games with KC Unions in ’84, then labored in minors until signing with Chicago in ‘89
- Regarded by many as the “biggest casualty” of the new mound distance in 1893
- A Yale grad in 1880, Hutchinson was one of the first in MLB to earn a BA
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