- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Boston
- Team: Doves
- League: National League
Charles Lincoln Herzog (1885-1953) was loved and hated by John McGraw: “I hate his guts, but I want him on my club.” Traded 3x and brought back to the Giants twice, this most versatile of infielders played with a fire matched by few of his era. His 1,493 career games were equally divided between 2nd, 3rd and shortstop.
- Herzog’s 12 hits in the 1912 Series stood as the record for half a century
- Always a shrewd negotiator, signed a record $12K minor league contract in 1920
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Buck Herzog
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
William Ambrose Hulbert (1832-1882) was Chicago through and through: “I’d rather be a lamppost in Chicago than a millionaire in any other city.” President of the White Stockings, Hulbert joined Al Spalding in founding the “senior circuit” NL in 1876. Repulsed by misbehavior of players and intrigue by “Eastern” owners, Hulbert worked hard to bring order and integrity to the game. Morgan Bulkeley served as first NL leader for one year before Hulbert took over the office until his death. He gave the NL authority to set schedules and hire umpires, wresting real control when he ousted the NY and Philadelphia franchises in a show of strength that solidified his leadership.
- Made the first serious moves to deal with the scourge of gambling, banning 4 Louisville players for life
- His ban of Cincinnati for beer-selling led to the formation of rival American Assoc in ‘82
- Although Spalding called him the “man who saved the game!” Hulbert was denied a plaque in Cooperstown for nearly 60 years
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1995
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Brooklyn
- Team: Bridegrooms
- League: American Association
Michael J. Hughes (1866-1931) got 25 of his three-year career total 39 wins for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in his rookie season, 1888. That performance earned Hughes the opening day start for Brooklyn in 1889 but he fell to a lackluster 9-8 record that year. Hughes was traded to the Athletics in 1890, finishing his brief ML tenure going 1-3 in six games.
- In Brooklyn’s final year in the American Association, Hughes went 1-0 in the 1889 Series against the NY Giants, won by NY 6 games to 3
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Reds (NL)
- League: National League
William Ellsworth Hoy (1862-1961) was a renowned outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds & other clubs over a 15 year career. Hoy was rendered deaf by a childhood illness. He was not the 1st deaf player in the majors, but he was the most accomplished, using his speed and small stature (5’4”) to generate walks and steals. Hoy retired in 1902 holding the career record for outfield chances.
- Hoy’s record three outfield assists to the plate in one game were all to his catcher Connie Mack
- Teamed with player-manager Charles Comiskey in the final season of the American Association
- At his death in 1961 he was the longest lived major league player at 99 years of age
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AA)
- League: American Association
Sargent Perry “Sadie” Houck (1856-1919) was a much-traveled shortstop, playing for seven teams over his eight year career. A native of Washington D. C., Houck debuted with the Boston Red Caps in 1879 and closed his playing days with the New York Metropolitans in 1887. Houck was among the first players to be blacklisted by the National League owners as management combined to assert its dominance over the then-unorganized players.
- Houck led the American Association in fielding percentage in 1884
- Houck’s salary as a Red Caps rookie was $600
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