Steve Libby

First Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Buffalo
  • Team: Bisons
  • League: National League

Stephen Augustus Libby (1853-1935) played one game for the Buffalo Bisons of the National League on May 10, 1879. His first game was also his last. Libby went on to umpire one game that year and eight more in 1880 behind the plate.

  • Libby played 1B, handling 8 chances without an error
  • Not as successful at the plate, Libby was 0-2 with a lifetime .000 BA

Auction History

Pat Luby

Pitcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Chicago
  • Team: Colts
  • League: National League

John Perkins Luby (1869-1899) pitched for the Chicago Colts and Louisville Colonels from 1890-95, compiling a 40-41 record. In his rookie season for Cap Anson’s Colts, Luby won 18 straight lifting the club to a 2nd place finish. This flash of brilliance was followed by a steady decline due to alcohol abuse, and a very early death at 30.

  • Luby still holds the dubious record of three hit-batters in an inning.
  • Playing in a tempestuous era, Luby lost one victory in ’92 by forfeit due to a home fan riot

Auction History

Denny Lyons

Third Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Philadelphia
  • Team: Athletics (AA)
  • League: American Association

Dennis Patrick Aloysius Lyons (1866-1929) was a strong hitting third-baseman over a thirteen year career in the major leagues from 1885 with Providence to 1897 with the Pirates. His lifetime batting average was .310. In 1890 he led the American Association in on-base percentage and slugging, and was second to Chicken Wolf in BA. He hit 62 home runs in the Deadball Era and was known as a formidable fielder in the no-glove era. Lyons’ era was also a time of rapid evolution in the game. In 1887, the year Denny “hit” safely in 52 straight, the pitcher’s box had been tightened and the pitcher’s delivery shortened to one step. Walks were also considered hits that year which has caused most modern students of the game to dismiss his “streak,” second only to Joltin’ Joe. But DiMaggio didn’t have to hit a fastball hurled from fifty feet. Only two of the 52 games was affected by walks but they were in the middle of the run. Despite such quibbles, Lyons was clearly a very accomplished player both offensively and afield.

  • Consistently ranked among batting leaders in both leagues he starred in: AA and NL
  • An Amos Rusie fastball broke two fingers and ended Denny’s ML tenure. He continued in the minors and hit .274 for the Beaumont Oil Gushers in 1903

Auction History

Connie Mack

Catcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. (1862-1956). An average catcher with strong leadership skills for 11 professional seasons (1886-1896), Mack then owned (1901-1954) and managed (1901-1950) the Philadelphia Athletics for half a century, establishing many managerial records and a unique place in the pantheon of baseball icons in the 20th century.

Check out how the h is missing from Pittsburgh on Mack’s uniform. This photo was taken at a time when America was removing the h from “burgh”s across the country. Pittsburgh was officially spelled Pittsburg between 1891 and 1911. The most significant hobby-related incidence of this alternative spelling of Pittsburgh occurs on the T206 Wagner.

  • 5x World Series Champion
  • Most Managerial Wins: 3,731
  • Most Managerial Losses: 3,948
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1937

Auction History

Jim Manning

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Detroit
  • Team: Wolverines
  • League: National League

James H. Manning (1862-1929) became the first manager of the Washington Senators in their franchise-first season, 1901. Manning came out of retirement to take the helm of the fledgling D.C. enterprise after a twelve-year absence from the major leagues. As a player, Manning was an early utility man for the Boston Beaneaters, the Detroit Wolverines and the Kansas City Cowboys from 1885-1889. Manning compiled a career BA of .215 with his high year for Detroit in ’85 with .269.

  • Manning was a switch hitter who played OF, 2B and Short
  • He started in the OF for Boston’s second year in the NL, helping the team to a 2nd place finish in ’84 behind the Providence Grays

Auction History

Jimmy McAleer

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Cleveland
  • Team: Spiders
  • League: National League

James Robert McAleer (1864-1931) was the premier defensive OF of the ‘90s, but a weak hitter. McAleer’s true talent was executive leadership and he became one of the prominent founders of the AL, with a gift for recruiting some of the top players away from the NL.

  • Opened Fenway Park in 1912 as president of the pennant-winning Sox
  • Credited with beginning the custom of inviting the President of the US to throw out the 1st ball

Auction History

Bill McClellan

Second Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Brooklyn
  • Team: Grays (AA)
  • League: American Association

William Henry McClellan (1856-1929) was a switch-hitting infielder for 5 teams over 8 seasons from 1878-88. McClellan played in 794 games compiling a career BA of .242 and a fielding % of .877. His best offensive year was for Brooklyn in ’86, hitting 9 HRs and driving in 68.

  • Broke in with the Chicago White Stockings in 1878
  • Played for the Bridegrooms 1885-88, ending his career with the Cleveland Blues

Auction History

Harry McCormick

Pitcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Syracuse
  • Team: Stars (NL)
  • League: National League

Patrick Henry McCormick (1855-1889) was a pitcher for the Syracuse Stars, Worcester Ruby Legs, and Cincinnati Red Stockings from 1879-83. His record of 41-58 belied his fine ERA of 2.66. On 7/26/79 Harry hit a 1st inning HR and then shut out Boston 1-0, a feat that will likely never be duplicated.

  • That home run was the only one of his brief career
  • McCormick died in his hometown of Syracuse at age 33

Auction History

Jack McGeachey

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Indianapolis
  • Team: Hoosiers (NL)
  • League: National League

John Charles McGeachey (1864-1930) played for six teams in six years, 1886-91. He broke in with the Detroit Wolverines and closed his ML tenure with the Boston Reds. In between, he played OF for the St Louis Maroons/Indianapolis Hoosiers, Brooklyn Ward’s Wonders and the Philadelphia Athletics. McGeachey’s time with the Reds was memorable as he helped the club to become only the second franchise in ML history to win back-to-back pennants in different leagues, matching Brooklyn’s accomplishment the year before.

  • Boston had won the Players’ League title in 1890 and the American Association pennant in ’91, making them unique in winning championships in each year of their team’s existence

Auction History

John McGraw

Third Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Baltimore
  • Team: Orioles
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

John Joseph McGraw (1873-1934) was an innovative player (the hit-and-run, the “Baltimore chop”) but went on to true greatness as a manager for Baltimore and, most noteworthy, the NY Giants. Only Connie Mack’s teams won more games and no NL manager approached him. Not shabby as a hitter (ranks 3rd all time behind Ted Williams and Babe Ruth in OBP), has been called “the best player to become a great manager.”

  • Played for and/or managed ten NL pennant winners
  • Upon his death, McGraw’s wife discovered a list of all the African-American players he wanted to sign but was prevented
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1937

Auction History

‘Nuf Ced’ McGreevy

Pioneer
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Boston

Michael “Nuf Ced” McGreevy (1865-1943) was the leader of the Royal Rooters, Boston’s premier baseball and drinking club, based at McGreevy’s Third Base Saloon “1200 steps from Fenway Park.” When arguments of Braves vs. Red Sox (Americans) broke out, he ended the fight by shouting “Nuf Ced!” An ardent crank of the Boston Beaneaters for nearly two decades, McGreevy appears to have pledged his allegiance to the Red Sox for two primary reasons: Jimmy Collins, his favorite Beaneater, jumped to the Boston Americans in 1901, the inaugural season of the American League; and Ban Johnson's new league offered cheaper tickets, enabling McGreevy and his patrons to attend more games. This switch had an enormous impact on the fortunes of professional baseball in Boston, perhaps positing McGreevy as the true Father of Red Sox Nation and foreshadowing the (Beaneaters) Braves' move to Milwaukee 53 years later.

  • Opened in 1894, the Third Base Saloon got its name to designate it as “the last stop before home”
  • McGreevy was an avid collector who decorated his saloon with wall-to-wall cabinet cards, photographs and game used memorabilia
  • In his SABR bio on McGreevy, Peter Nash called the Third Base Saloon, "baseball's first true museum"
  • When prohibition forced the closure of his saloon, McGreevy donated his collection to the Boston Public Library

Auction History

Deacon McGuire

Catcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Washington, D.C.
  • Team: Senators
  • League: National League

James Thomas McGuire (1863-1936). A catcher, manager & coach, McGuire’s 26 major league seasons was a record until Nolan Ryan broke it in 1993. Deacon also played for 11 different teams; another record until broken by Matt Stairs in 2010. He is one of 29 players to play in 4 different decades.

  • His 1,859 assists as a catcher is still a record
  • Managed the Senators (1898), the Red Sox (1907-1908), & the Naps (1909-1911)
  • Coach with the Tigers (1911-17)

Auction History

Denny McKnight

Owner
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League

Harmar Denny McKnight (1848-1900) was an owner/mgr in the early tumultuous days as the AA sparred with the NL. McKnight founded the Pittsburgh Alleghenys in the AA in 1881. The club was crippled in 1890 by the Player’s League recruiting most of the team. Undaunted, McKnight took over that short-lived franchise and established the Pirates in the NL.

  • Was president of the American Association from 1882-86
  • Managed the Alleghenys (Pirates) in 1884

Auction History

Bid McPhee

Second Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Reds (NL)
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

John A. McPhee (1859-1943). McPhee played 18 seasons – all for the Cincinnati Red Stockings/Reds – & was the last 2nd baseman to play without a glove, playing bare-handed for the 1st 14 years of his career. Known for his defense, McPhee matured in the box & compiled some good numbers: 2,258 Hs, 1,684 Rs, at least 568 SBs & a .355 OBP.

  • Only HOFer to spend significant time in AA
  • One of 3 HOFers to spend entire career with Cincinnati
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 2000

Auction History

Cal McVey

First Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Reds (NL)
  • League: National League

Calvin Alexander McVey (1849-1926) was a key player in the earliest days of pro ball, first with Harry Wright’s seminal Cincinnati Red Stockings in 1869, then moving with Wright to Boston as one of Harry’s select threesome. The young McVey joined the fledgling pro team for a stagecoach trip to Omaha and then became the 1st ball club to use the new transcontinental railroad to SF as part of the Red Stocking’s national tour.

  • During his career, McVey played all nine positions and was an outstanding hitter: .346 BA lifetime
  • McVey’s move from Boston to Chicago in 1876 with Al Spalding, Ross Barnes & Deacon White (to form the White Stockings with Cap Anson, Paul Hines & Bob Addy) led to the creation of the NL

Auction History

Abraham Mills

League President
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • League: National League

Abraham G. Mills (1844-1929), a former NL president, chaired the commission that anointed Abner Doubleday the inventor of the game in Cooperstown. Riding a patriotic fervor in that era, Mills sought to refute Henry Chadwick’s thesis that baseball grew from English “rounders.” Historians may quibble, but the Hall is in Cooperstown.

  • Mills was heavily involved in the development of the “reserve” clause so reviled by players
  • A leader in the Olympic movement, Mills’ last work involved planning the ’32 Winter games

Auction History

John Morrill

First Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Boston
  • Team: Beaneaters
  • League: National League

John Francis Morrill (1855-1932) was a successful player/manager, primarily for the Beaneaters, in a career spanning 1876-90. His team’s third pennant came in ’83, the year after he took over as manager at Boston. “Honest John” hit .319, played six positions, and piloted the club to victory, winning 33 of its final 44 games.

  • Batted .260 over his 15 year career
  • Received a 5-minute ovation upon his return to Boston after a brief stint w/Washington

Auction History

Tony Mullane

Pitcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Red Stockings (AA)
  • League: American Association

Anthony John Mullane (1859-1944) won 284 games over a 13 year career with 7 teams, primarily in the AA. In 2010 he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame. When the NL added 10.5 feet from mound to plate, Mullane was never the same pitcher. The next year (’94) he surrendered 16 first inning runs to the Beaneaters.

  • Ambidextrous, Mullane held the ball in both hands, disguising his intended offering
  • Lost a season (’85) to suspension amidst his string of five 30-win years
  • Mullane was voted SABR's Overlooked 19th Century Legend for 2015

Auction History

Yale Murphy

Shortstop
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: New York
  • Team: Giants
  • League: National League

William Henry Murphy (1869-1906) got his nickname attending Old Eli and was a coach in some of America’s finest universities following his brief tour of duty in MLB. Murphy was an infielder and OF playing sporadically over 3 years for the NY Giants. The diminutive Murphy (5’3” and 125 lbs) was one of the two shortest players in the game’s history.

  • Coached Stanford, Columbia and the Naval Academy baseball teams and Fordham’s football squad
  • Finished medical school and became a physician before succumbing to TB at 36

Auction History

Billy Nash

Third Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Boston
  • Team: Beaneaters
  • League: National League

William Mitchell Nash (1865-1929) played for 15 years as a third baseman, primarily in Boston. He managed the Phillies in ’96. He achieved a lifetime BA of .275 with a high of .295 for the ’87 Beaneaters. As manager, Nash scouted and recruited Nap Lajoie to Philadelphia.

  • Bill James ranked Nash #49 all-time third basemen
  • Sporting Life touted his $7,500 total compensation in ’91 as money well-spent

Auction History

Kid Nichols

Pitcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Omaha
  • Team: Omahogs
  • League: Western Association
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Charles Augustus Nichols (1869-1953). A right-handed, switch-hitting pitcher, Nichols played 15 major league seasons for 3 different clubs. Nichols had 11 seasons with 20 Wins or more, 10 consecutively, 7 of which exceeded 30. He quit MLB for 2 years to own & pitch for a minor league team, with whom he won another 48 games.

  • Youngest to 300 Wins (30 years)
  • 5x NL pennant winner
  • His 361 Wins ranks 7th all-time
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1949
  • Nichols' uniform color on this card was changed in September, 2017, from red-striped to blue-striped to reflect recent reliable research by Craig Brown & friends at Threads of Our Game. Seven cards were previously released featuring a red-striped uniform.

Auction History

Hank O’Day

Pitcher
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: New York
  • Team: Giants
  • League: Players' League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Henry Francis O’Day (1859-1935). O’Day was a pitcher & occasional position player over 7 ML seasons for 5 teams. Hank then umpired for 30 years, interrupting his tenure twice: to manage the Cincinnati Reds in 1912 and the Chicago Cubs in 1914.

  • Member of ’89 Champion Giants
  • Umpired 10 World Series
  • Officiated Merkle’s Boner
  • Called 4 no-hitters in 4 decades
  • Only person to play, manage & umpire in NL
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 2013

Auction History

Jim O’Rourke

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: New York
  • Team: Giants
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

James Henry O’Rourke (1850-1919) made the National League’s first base hit, and went on to a 21-year, Hall of Fame career. From 1876-92, only Cap Anson played in more games or got more hits. After leaving MLB for the minors, O’Rourke returned for his swan song with his pal John McGraw’s Giants, becoming the oldest player (at 54) to play in the NL and to get a hit.

  • Played for 5 pennant winners and was NA HR champ in 1874-75
  • One of only 29 to play in MLB in four decades
  • Entered the HOF as one of the first 19th Century players to do so
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1945

Auction History

George Pinkney

Third Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Brooklyn
  • Team: Grays (AA)
  • League: American Association

George Burton Pinkney (1859-1926) was one of the American Association’s top hitters and baseball’s early Iron Men. Pinkney held the MLB record for consecutive innings played until overtaken by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1987. Pinkney’s color palette as a player ran to dark: Blue(s) (Cleveland), Gray(s) (Brooklyn), and Brown(s) St. Louis from 1884-93.

  • Twice led the AA in games played (’86 &’88)
  • Helped the Bridegrooms to the ’89 pennant in the AA and the ’90 title in the NL

Auction History

Tom Poorman

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Philadelphia
  • Team: Athletics (AA)
  • League: American Association

Thomas Iverson Poorman (1857-1905) was a pitcher/outfielder for five major-league teams from 1880-1888 with stints in the minors mixed in. His start in the pros was with the NL’s Buffalo Bisons, going the same season to the Chicago White Stockings. He played for the two New York entries in the Eastern Championship League in ‘81, the NY Metropolitans and New York New Yorks. He didn’t play the next year and went to Toledo in ‘83. The Blue Stockings advanced from the Northwestern League to the American Association in ‘84 so Tom got back to the big leagues. Poorman had brief turns with NL and AA clubs, leaving the Athletics for Western Assoc teams 1889-91. The lure of the diamond must have been strong as he made one last try with his hometown Lockhaven, PA Maroons after a five year absence from professional baseball, in 1897. He pitched in three of his ML campaigns, going 3-9 and had a career batting average of .244 in the majors.

  • During his short time with the New Yorks, Tom played with future Hall of Famer Dan Brouthers
  • Poorman might best be remembered today as the butt of a practical joke pulled off by the Goodwin editors on one of his four documented Old Judge cards. For pose 371-2, the Goodwin jokers make light of Tom's surname by identifying him as a "Poor Man."

Auction History