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Paul Cook

Catcher
  • Series: Beginnings: 1880's
  • City: Louisville
  • Team: Colonels
  • League: American Association

Paul Cook (1863-1905) got into three games at catcher for Harry Wright’s struggling Philadelphia Quakers at the end of the 1884 season. He returned to the minors before getting picked up by the Louisville Colonels where he stayed four years before jumping to Ward’s Wonders for the Players’ League season of 1890. Cook finished up the following year with three teams, back in Kentucky, then the Lincoln Rustlers and, finally, the St. Louis Browns. During his five years with the Colonels, Cook batted a mere .219 with no power.

  • In his early days, Cook played for Muskegon in the Northwestern League, the Toledo Avengers of the Western League, and the Washington Nationals of the Eastern League
  • Paul played in D.C. for manager Mike Scanlon who would lead the club in ‘86 as they joined the National League
  • Cook's uniform color on this card was changed in January, 2017 from blue to maroon to reflect recent reliable research by Craig Brown & friends at Threads of Our Game. One card had been previously released featuring a blue uniform.

Auction History

Moses Fleetwood Walker

Catcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Toledo
  • Team: Blue Stockings
  • League: American Association

Moses Fleetwood Walker (1857-1924) was likely not the first African-American to play major league baseball. For that distinction, historians have made a case for William Edward White, who played a game with the Providence Grays on June 21, 1879. Subbing for injured first baseman Joe Start, Bill White hit a single in four at bats, stole two bases, scored a run and recorded 12 putouts without an error, contributing to a 5-3 win for the title-bound Grays and a 19 year old pitcher named John Montgomery Ward. By the next game, White had been replaced at the position by regular right fielder and Hall of Famer Jim O’Rourke, who continued to man first base until Start returned. The historic event established a one game career in the major leagues for Bill White that predates Fleet Walker’s appearance by five years.

Fleet Walker became the second African-American major leaguer when he played for the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association in 1884. Toledo’s star pitcher was Tony Mullane, who considered Fleetwood “the best catcher I ever worked with.” Sadly, Mullane succumbed to the bigotry of his own and his day and, despite the negative consequences his maladaptive behavior bequeathed his team, repeatedly crossed Walker up by ignoring his signs. Mullane’s dangerous deceit led to a series of injuries for Fleetwood, including a season ending broken rib. Despite the difficulties and indignities, Fleet hit .263 on the year, which was a few ticks higher than league average.

Toledo went 46-58 in 1884, finished 8th in the league and folded at the end of the season. The graceful and talented Walker returned to minor league ball in 1885 and, when his playing days were past, led a noble life as an inventor, author and educator.

  • Moses’ brother, Weldy Wilberforce Walker joined him in Toledo mid-season, becoming the third and last black player in the major leagues until Jackie Robinson appeared 63 years later. Weldy got into five games, played the outfield and hit .222 in 18 plate appearances.
  • Hank O’Day was Toledo’s other pitcher in 1884, going 9-28 with a 3.75 ERA in 327 innings. Mullane was clearly the ace, going 36-26 with a 2.52 ERA in 567 innings. Ars Longa alumni on the team: Tony Mullane, Hank O’Day, Curt Welch, Tom Poorman & Deacon McGuire.
  • Playing with the Newark Little Giants in 1887, Fleet Walker caught George Stovey, perhaps the best African-American pitcher of the 19th century. It was the first African-American battery in non-segregated professional baseball history. Ars Longa alumni on the team: John Henry, Mickey Hughes, John Irwin & Tom McLaughlin.
  • On April 7, 1887, Walker caught Stovey in an exhibition game against the New York Giants, losing 3-2 to Tim O’Keefe. The 1887 Giants were a 19th century juggernaut, featuring Keefe, John Montgomery Ward, Roger Connor, Buck Ewing, Mickey Welch & George Gore among a host of other excellent players. John Ward was so impressed by the battery (and by Stovey in particular) that he convinced manager Jim Mutrie to sign the two. Legend has it that Mutrie did make an attempt to purchase the players’ contracts, and it’s not entirely clear why the transaction failed to materialize, but later that year the Sporting Life reported that the Brooklyn Bridegrooms were also trying to purchase Stovey’s contract.
  • Just one year later in 1888, Fleet joined the Syracuse Stars and formed non-segregated professional baseball’s second African-American battery with pitcher Robert Higgins. Higgins was great, going 17-7 with a 2.76 ERA en route to an International League title for Syracuse. Ars Longa alumni on the team: Billy Serad, Con Murphy, Frank Gilmore & Cupid Childs.
  • Walker endured the venom of Reconstruction Era racism. He resorted to alcohol to soothe the rage and the pain, contributing to a downward spiral that left him in despair of racial reconciliation.

Auction History

Joe Crotty

Catcher
  • Series: 1880s: Spotted Ties
  • City: New York
  • Team: Metropolitans
  • League: American Association

Joseph P. Crotty (1860-1926) was a catcher in two leagues: the American and Union Associations. He was in these organizations with 4 clubs from 1882 to 1886. Before, during and after these years in the “major leagues,” Crotty floated among numerous minor league franchises including the Sioux City Corn Huskers in whose uniform he appeared in the Old Judge series for 1889. A journeyman receiver, Crotty had a typically anemic batting average (.170 in MLB) but fared 100 points higher when in the lower echelons. His career did allow him to see the country: as far east as Syracuse, south to Jackson and west to Helena. Joe’s initial year, 1882, was also a year of firsts for his two clubs. He began in Louisville with the new Eclipse squad and then was picked up by Chris von der Ahe’s St. Louis Brown Stockings. This enabled him to be present at the creation of the Cardinals as the controversial owner brought the team into the American Association.

  • Joe’s other ML clubs were the Cincinnati Outlaw Reds and the NY Metropolitans
  • The Reds played in the UA’s only season, 1884, affording Crotty another chance to make a kind of history

Auction History

Cartophilia

Old Judge Pose: 102-1

Charlie Ganzel

Catcher
  • Series: Beginnings: 1880's
  • City: Detroit
  • Team: Wolverines
  • League: National League

Charles William Ganzel (1862-1914) was reared in Kalamazoo with nine siblings, part of what would be called the “First Family” of Michigan baseball. Charlie had the longest major league career, 14 seasons, with his best coming with the Wolverines and Beaneaters for whom he served nine years behind the plate. Usually a reliable reserve, Ganzel had to step up when longtime teammate Charlie Bennett lost both legs in a train accident. The duo had moved from Detroit to Boston as part of the then highest-cost foursome sold: $30,000. They had split the duties in 1887 when the Wolverines reached their peak, winning the NL flag and defeating the Browns in the post-season. Charlie’s years in Boston were very productive with three more pennants. A lifetime .259 BA testified to his skill offensively and he was always praised for his defense.

  • Brother John saw major-league experience as did son Foster who followed 43 years after Dad’s debut, still the longest gap for father/son major-league debuts

Auction History

Bill Farmer

Catcher
  • Series: Beginnings: 1880's
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Alleghenys
  • League: National League

William Charles Farmer (1864-1928) had a very brief major league career as a catcher for two teams in 1888. He played first for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the National League and got into two games with four at bats. He then moved across state to the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association where he played in three games and got two hits in 12 plate appearances. He drove in one run. Such was the lot of this would-be big leaguer, a “career average” of .125. Bill did better when he moved west to the St. Paul Apostles in 1889. He was behind the plate for 28 of his 63 games and batted .272. He even showed some speed with 38 steals. He was on the team’s roster the following year but performance data is lacking. Similarly, for Farmer’s first minor league assignment in 1887 with the Shamokin Maroons in the Central Pennsylvania League, we know only that he was on the team.

  • High Heat Stats has compiled a list of all the Emerald Isle-born players who made it to MLB. Farmer, of Dublin, is one of only 44 on that roll
  • The Goodwin editors point out a somewhat mournful stat for Mr. Farmer: he was featured in more Old Judge card poses (5) than he had hits in his major league tenure (2)

Auction History