- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AA)
- League: American Association
Harry Duffield Stovey (nee Stowe) (1856-1937) was a prolific slugger and base stealer. He was the 1st in MLB to get to 100 HRs, leading the league 5 times. Stovey began his career with the Worcester Ruby Legs in 1880 and retired as a player with the Bridegrooms in ’93. Considered the premier base thief of his era, Stovey was said to have innovated the feet-first slide.
- Harry didn’t want his mother reading of him in the press as she objected to his baseball ambitions, hence the name Stovey
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Boston
- Team: Beaneaters
- League: National League
William Jefferson Sowders (1864-1951) pitched for the Boston Beaneaters in 1888 and ’89, moved that year to the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and left MLB after the 1890 season. He compiled a 29-30 record, striking out 205 with a 3.34 ERA. Nicknamed “Little Bill,” this 6’ right-hander was a head taller than most of his peers. Bill was the middle of three Sowders brothers to play in the major leagues. Elder brother Len pitched for the Baltimore Orioles in ’86 and John played for the Hoosiers, the KC Cowboys and Ward’s Wonders of Brooklyn over three seasons.
- Played two minor league seasons (’87 & 91) in the Northwestern League for St. Paul and Joliet of the Illinois-Iowa League
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Boston
- Team: Beaneaters
- League: National League
- Hall: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
Charles Marv Smith (1856-1927). From Nova Scotia, Canada, Smith was an infielder for 10 different teams over 12 professional seasons. On April 17, 1890, Smith walked his first 5 times up at bat and was hit by a pitch the 6th time, becoming the 1st player in Major League history to come to bat 6 times in a game and not record an official At Bat.
- Elected to Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame: 2005
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Baltimore
- Team: Orioles
- League: American Association
John Francis Smith (1864-1952). Despite his name, Smith never had a winning season in the major leagues, going 54-74 for 6 different teams over 8 seasons. Smith earned his nickname after striking out 16 batters in a minor league game. Before one game, Smith bragged he was so good that he did not need his teammates; they proceeded to commit 14 errors & Smith lost the game 18-5. The players were fined $500 and Smith was released.
- Discovered Christy Mathewson
- Won a minor league batting title
- Smith's uniform color on this card was changed in March, 2017 from black to blue & red to reflect recent reliable research by Craig Brown & friends at Threads of Our Game. Nine cards had been previously released featuring a black uniform.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Brooklyn
- Team: Bridegrooms
- League: American Association
George J. Smith (1863-1927). A shortstop for 5 teams over 15 seasons, Germany once committed 7 intentional errors in a game to undermine the boasting of his pitcher that day, Phenomenal Smith. 14 errors were committed that day, the Bridegrooms lost 18-5, Germany and others were each fined $500, and Phenomenal was released. A below average hitter, Germany was an excellent defender and routinely finished in the league’s top five in many defensive categories for shortstops.
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