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Napoleon Lajoie

Second Base
  • Series: Diamond Heads '15
  • City: Cleveland
  • Team: Naps
  • League: American League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Napoleon Lajoie (1885-1959) joined the American League at its inception and became its first superstar en route to a Hall of Fame career as one of the best all time 2nd basemen. In that first year of the junior circuit, Lajoie set a record never exceeded in the AL with a .426 BA (also never exceeded in the modern era in the NL). Won the Triple Crown in 1901 and 4 more AL batting titles.

  • Only Cobb, Ruth, Wagner, Mathewson and Johnson preceded him In the first HOF balloting
  • Was such a hit with Cleveland fans, they voted to name the team the “Naps” in 1903
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1937

Auction History

Harry Lord

Third Base
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Chicago
  • Team: White Sox
  • League: American League

Harry Donald Lord (1882-1948) was groomed for Jimmy Collins’ third base position on the Boston Americans (soon to become Red Sox.) Highlights of his stellar ’09 season included leading a triple steal against the Athletics. Walter Johnson broke Lord’s finger, leading to a trade to the White Sox. From there he joined the Federal League before leaving MLB.

  • Voiced regret he had left Chicago before 1919, believing he could have thwarted the affair
  • In 1910, Lord was one of ten future MLB managers on the Red Sox, most ever

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Harry Lord

Hans Lobert

Third Base
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Philadelphia
  • Team: Phillies
  • League: National League

John Bernard Lobert (1881-1868) played 3rd base for 6 teams from 1903-17, then came back to become the oldest “rookie” manager, for the hapless wartime Phils in 1942. Lobert may have been the fastest player of his era, once staging an exhibition racing a thoroughbred around the bases. A “lifer,” Lobert coached or scouted till his dying day.

  • Good fielder and batter, hit .300 4x and twice led NL 3rd basemen in fielding %
  • Don’t know if he beat the horse but he did defeat gold medalist Jim Thorpe

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Hans Lobert

Pop Lloyd

Shortstop
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Havana
  • Team: Leones
  • League: Cuban National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

John Lloyd (1884-1964) was one of the best shortstops in baseball history. Called by whites the “Black Wagner,” Honus himself deemed that association with Lloyd an honor. Lloyd was a pillar of black baseball with a lifetime Negro League BA of .343. He also spent 12 seasons in the Cuban League, batting .329.

  • Babe Ruth called Lloyd the best baseball player ever
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1977

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Charles Hickman

Tommy Leach

Outfield
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League

Thomas A. Leach (1877-1969) consistently ranked among the leading hitters of the 1st decade of the 20th century. His 19-year career was spent primarily as a Pirate. Batting ahead of Honus Wagner, “Wee Tommy” was one of the top HR hitters of the era, but it was his capacity for triples that really distinguished him (ranks 23rd in MLB.) He still holds the record of 4 triples in the ’03 Series & is 1st in the NL in inside-the-park HRs. During his 13 years in Pittsburgh, Leach played on 4 pennant winners and one world champion (’09). Moved to the OF to take advantage of his speed, Leach teamed with Dummy Hoy. As the oldest source for Ritter’s “The Glory of Their Times,” Leach related that Hoy could make a distinctive squeak to signal he would catch the ball, and they relied on sign language only as a last resort.

  • Leach was widowed twice in 3 years with Pittsburgh but was blessed to have his 3rd wife Sara until the end of his life, just before his 92nd birthday
  • He was the last survivor of the premier 1903 World Series

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Tommy Leach