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Jack Coombs

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Philadelphia
  • Team: Athletics (AL)
  • League: American League

John Wesley Coombs (1882-1957) pitched for the Athletics, Robins and Tigers over 13 years, but it was his magical 1910 season that made a permanent mark on MLB. 31-9, 1.30 ERA, 353 innings, 35 CG, and the still standing record of 13 shutouts. A year for the ages!

  • In one 16-day stretch in 1910 he pitched 10 complete games and relieved in 2 more
  • Went on to a successful college coaching career till forced to retire from Duke at age 70

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Jack Coombs

Tom Connolly

Umpire
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • League: American League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Thomas Henry Connolly (1870-1961) was a young English immigrant who became so fascinated by the strange game of baseball that he resolved to learn as much as he could about it. He devoured the rule book, began umpiring in Massachusetts and was discovered by a big league ump. So began a half-century career ending with election to the Hall of Fame as one of the first two officials so honored (with Bill Klem).

  • Found his niche in the American League, officiating its first game on April 24, 1901
  • From 1931 to 1954 was AL supervisor of umpires, assuring integrity and consistency in the game he knew as well as any man
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1953

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Jerry Downs

Jimmy Collins

Third Base
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Providence
  • Team: Grays (NL)
  • League: Eastern League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

James Joseph Collins (1870-1943) was the best in the NL at 3B when he jumped to the new AL in 1901. Collins led the Boston Americans to the 1st World Series championship in ’03, downing Pittsburgh in best-of-nine. Thanks to John McGraw’s stubborn refusal to play the next year’s AL winner, Boston was denied another opportunity despite its 1st place finish.

  • The dust-up between leagues resulted in rules beginning in 1905 making the Series the permanent premier event in Major League Baseball
  • Upon his induction into the HOF Collins became the first regular third-baseman so honored
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1945

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Ernest (Johnny) Lush

Eddie Collins

Second Base
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Philadelphia
  • Team: Athletics (AL)
  • League: American League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Edward Trowbridge Collins Sr. (1887-1951) was sold by Connie Mack to the White Sox in 1915 for the amazing sum of $50,000. His salary put him behind only Cobb and Speaker. He left the “$100,000 infield” of the Athletics for what would become the most notorious team in MLB history. He never believed the rumored “fix” for the Sox in 1919 and survived the scandal to lead the team in its aftermath.

  • Only man to play for 2 teams for at least 12 yrs each
  • Spent 15 yrs as GM for the Red Sox under his friend Tom Yawkey
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1939

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Eddie Collins

King Cole

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Chicago
  • Team: Cubs
  • League: National League

Leonard Leslie Cole (1886-1916) went 20-4 with the 1910 Cubs in his second season, still the best winning % in 20th C. franchise history and led them to a pennant. After another great year in ’11 was traded to Pirates. Ill health plagued him and he missed the ’13 season, and died of TB after a very short 1915 season.

  • Pitching for the Yankees in 1914, surrendered Babe Ruth’s first ML hit, a double
  • Said to have been Ring Lardner’s model for “Alibi Ike,” beloved in short story and film
  • Maintained a fine 3.12 ERA over his brief six-year career

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: King Cole