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Max Carey

Outfield
  • Series: Diamond Heads '15
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Max George Carey (1890-1976) was “harder to stop than a run in a silk stocking” per Joe Williams. A superb center fielder with a fine lifetime BA of .285, it was on the base paths that he made his mark with the Pirates and Robins. Saving his best for (nearly) the last, Carey led Pittsburgh to the pennant with a .343 BA, and to the title with a .458 Series average in 1925.

  • In 1922 was successful in steals 51 of 53 attempts and led the NL ten times
  • Stole home 33 times, second only to Ty Cobb’s 50
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1961

Auction History

Honus Wagner

Shortstop
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Johannes Peter Wagner (1874-1955) was, simply, the greatest shortstop who ever played the game. The Pittsburgh icon was among the first five selections to Cooperstown in 1936 in recognition of overall prowess afield, at bat and on base unparalleled in baseball. Even his closest rival for “All-Time Best” honors, Ty Cobb, said Honus was “maybe the greatest star ever to take the diamond.” Badgered mercilessly by ‘Nuf Ced’ McGreevy’s Royal Rooters in the ’07 Series with Boston, Wagner was deeply wounded by his mediocre performance. He achieved some vindication 2 years later, leading the Pirates over Cobb’s Tigers.

  • Space doesn’t allow a fair summary of Wagner’s hitting records. A marvel at the plate.
  • Was a Pirates’ coach for 39 years, mentoring several future Hall of Famers
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1936

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Charles Starr

Bill McKechnie

Second Base
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

William Boyd McKechnie (1886-1965) was a noted baseball strategist and the only manager to lead three teams to NL pennants. Won World Series titles with two clubs: the ’25 Pirates and ’40 Reds. A player, manager and then coach for nearly half a century, “the Deacon” was known for his temperance and piety.

  • Served as coach for young Indians manager, Lou Boudreau, winning the ’48 Series
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1962

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Mike Simon

Tommy Leach

Outfield
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League

Thomas A. Leach (1877-1969) consistently ranked among the leading hitters of the 1st decade of the 20th century. His 19-year career was spent primarily as a Pirate. Batting ahead of Honus Wagner, “Wee Tommy” was one of the top HR hitters of the era, but it was his capacity for triples that really distinguished him (ranks 23rd in MLB.) He still holds the record of 4 triples in the ’03 Series & is 1st in the NL in inside-the-park HRs. During his 13 years in Pittsburgh, Leach played on 4 pennant winners and one world champion (’09). Moved to the OF to take advantage of his speed, Leach teamed with Dummy Hoy. As the oldest source for Ritter’s “The Glory of Their Times,” Leach related that Hoy could make a distinctive squeak to signal he would catch the ball, and they relied on sign language only as a last resort.

  • Leach was widowed twice in 3 years with Pittsburgh but was blessed to have his 3rd wife Sara until the end of his life, just before his 92nd birthday
  • He was the last survivor of the premier 1903 World Series

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Tommy Leach

George Gibson

Catcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League
  • Hall: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

George C. Gibson (1880-1967) was the epitome of the defensive, canny catcher. Despite the punishment at this position, Gibson shattered the MLB mark in ’09 for consecutive games caught. He lasted 21 years, helped the Pirates beat the Cobb-led Tigers in ’09. Stayed in baseball as one of the 1st Canadian managers with Pittsburgh and the Cubs.

  • From 1908-10, Gibson averaged 144 games caught, unheard of in that era
  • Led NL in fielding % three times
  • Elected to Canadian BB Hall of Fame: 1987

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: George Gibson