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Charley Jones

Outfield
  • Series: Mort's Reserve
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Reds (NL)
  • League: National League

Charles Wesley Jones (1852-1911) was a star slugger in the NL and AA from 1875-88. Though he never led his teams to pennants, Jones held many early HR records, notably with Boston and Cincinnati. A victim of the Blacklist, Jones lost two seasons in his prime. Despite this, he was the career HR leader thru 1884.

  • Was the first player to hit 2 HRs in same inning, 6/10/80. The pitcher was Tom Poorman
  • Nickname: Baby
  • Birth name: Benjamin Wesley Rippay
  • Was the 274th player to debut in MLB
  • Was an MLB umpire, 1890-1891
  • According to Jay Jaffe's JAWS system, Charley ranks as the 80th best left fielder in MLB history, between Larry Hisle & Joe Rudi
  • Until 2012 Jones was the best-known MLB player for whom death info was unknown. The “mystery” was solved by SABR researcher Greg Perkins.

Auction History

Heinie Groh

Second Base
  • Series: Diamond Heads '15
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Reds (NL)
  • League: National League

Henry Knight Groh (1889-1968) was one of the best all-around third baseman in baseball. He is considered the National League’s premier specialist at the hot corner during the Deadball Era in which he starred for the Giants and Reds. Groh set fielding records in numerous categories, some of which have never been exceeded in the long history of the Senior Circuit. As good as he was at his position, the diminutive Groh was even more effective at bat, wielding an unusual “bottle bat” to enable his small hands to bunt and hit-and-run with the best. Heinie came up with McGraw’s Giants in 1912 but was soon shipped to Cincinnati where he emerged as a talented lead-off-hitting second-baseman. When manager Buck Herzog moved Groh to third, his career skyrocketed. He chafed under the Reds’ leadership, holding out, getting a chance to return to NY, then having Judge Landis veto the deal lest a player gain actual leverage over ownership. In 1922 Groh finally rejoined his original team and helped them to the pennant.

  • His performance in the Series that year was sensational, including a .474 average that Groh kept on his Ohio license plate the rest of his life
  • Led the NL in double plays six times and fielding % five times, both still records

Auction History

Clark Griffith

Manager
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Reds (NL)
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Clark Calvin Griffith (1869-1955) was a successful pitcher for over 20 years but had only just begun his baseball career. AL founder Ban Johnson prevailed on Griffith to take the helm of the NY entry into the new league in 1903. That began a tenure as manager and owner that lasted until Griffith’s death in 1955. With a showman’s touch and a veteran player’s savvy, Griffith turned around the D.C. franchise.

  • Only one in history to be a player, manager and owner for over 20 years in each role
  • Counted eight U.S. presidents as friends during his long tenure as owner of the Senators
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Harry Baker

Eddie Grant

Third Base
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Reds (NL)
  • League: National League

Edward Leslie Grant (1883-1918) had a cup of coffee replacing an ailing Nap Lajoie with the Indians at the end of the 1905 season, upon his graduation from Harvard. Caught on with the Phillies ’07-10, then played for the Reds and Giants thru 1915. An early enlistee for WWI, Grant became the 1st ML veteran to die in that conflict, leading a heroic search for the “Lost Battalion.”

  • A Harvard lawyer (’09), Grant refused to holler “I Got It!,” preferring “I Have It!”

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Eddie Grant

Sam Wright

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

Samuel Wright Jr. (1848-1928) has two brothers in the Hall of Fame: Harry and George. Alas, Sam’s .168 BA in 45 games over 4 seasons did not qualify him. Sam broke in with the New Haven Elm Citys of the NAPBP, considered by some a major league. Their 7-40 record led to their demise after one year.

  • The Wright brothers’ father Sam was a prominent cricketer
  • In Sam’s debut, he got a hit against brother Harry’s Red Stockings before being shellacked

Auction History