- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Browns (AA)
- League: American Association
John Milligan (1861-1923) was a catcher for 5 major league teams from 1884 to 1893, including two stints with the Athletics. A lifelong Philadelphian, Jocko played for nearby teams: the Senators, Orioles and Giants with a two-year hitch in St. Louis being his only sojourn away from the East Coast. Orphaned at age 8, Milligan was raised at Girard College, an orphanage that prized athletics and gave young Jocko the gift of baseball. He became one of 13 graduates to play the game professionally. During his ten-year career, Jocko hit a very respectable .286 with 49 home runs. Although he was primarily a back-up catcher, Milligan compiled lifetime stats that put him among the best of his era. Bill James has placed him at 103rd best all-around receivers.
- On May 2, 1886 Jocko hit four doubles in one game
- This gentle giant (6’1” and 190 lbs) and blacksmith entertained orphans with 360′ wallops long after his retirement
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Pittsburgh
- Team: Alleghenys
- League: National League
George Frederick Miller (1864-1909) had an outstanding ten-year career in Pittsburgh before closing his ML tenure with his best offensive years. He played from age 18 with Harrisburg until 38 as player-manager for the Dayton Veterans of the Central League. As a big-league catcher, Miller proved a formidable batter, defender and runner. He could also bring a certain “tenth-man” quality to the field, attested by his nickname “Foghorn.” Miller harassed opponents (and umps) mercilessly from near the on-deck circle. And he was versatile, playing substantial innings at third and in the outfield. Doggie compiled an excellent .267 average lifetime, but had terrific years at the plate after leaving the Steel City for the Browns in 1894-95, hitting .339 and .291. He was sold to the Louisville Colonels the following year for $400.
- Per the NY Clipper, Nov 16, 1889: “Miller is one of the most promising and popular young players in the profession and he certainly has a very bright future before him.”
- Other than Doggie and Foghorn, Miller also enjoyed Calliope as a nickname
- Miller has five known Old Judge poses
- Miller’s uniform color on this card was changed in August, 2017 from black to red to reflect recent reliable research by Craig Brown & friends at Threads of Our Game. Six cards were previously released featuring a black uniform.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Denver
- Team: Grizzlies
- League: Western Association
James McQuaid (1861-1928) played baseball under the name Mortimer Martin “Mart” McQuaid. He was a right-handed, grizzled veteran of the minor league circuits from age 27 in 1888 until 1906 with Alameda in the California League. According to the Baseball Encyclopedia, Mart played for 31 teams including brief stints in the majors with St Louis and Washington. He also managed the Dubuque squad in 1896-7. Over 14 seasons, McQuaid had a .310 BA but was miserable afield, botching over one in ten chances. According to SABR’s Vern Luse, McQuaid was the brother of famed ML umpire Jack McQuaid. His cups of coffee in the AA with the Browns (4 games) and the NL’s Senators (one game in which he took the collar) were accidental interruptions for a lifelong laborer in America’s summer meadows, the diamonds-in-the-rough of Main Street USA.
- McQuaid’s Old Judge pose was for the Denver Grizzlies during his second year, but typical of his career: he hit .303 but “was the worst right fielder in the league, by a large margin” per the Goodwin editors
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Red Stockings (AA)
- League: American Association
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
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Spiders
- League: National League
Edwin John McKean (1864-1919) was Cleveland’s shortstop throughout their major league existence in the 19th century. He began with the Blues (Forest Cities) in 1887 and remained with the club as it became the Spiders. The Robisons transferred their players to their St Louis team in 1899 where McKean finished his MLB tenure as a Perfecto. Baseball’s official guides list Ed’s year of birth as 1864 but biographer Rich Blevins makes the case that McKean may have been but a callow youth when he debuted with American Association Blues. Blevins presents evidence that McKean was born in 1869, making him a mere 17 as a big-league rookie. He had come up with the Youngstowns in 1884 and got his first professional hit off Cannon Ball Bill Stemmyer. He and “Stem” would be teammates with the Spiders in ‘88. McKean was a fine hitter, compiling a .302 BA over his 13 years in the majors. His career OBP was .364.
- Career offensive stats rank McKean with the greats of his era: he is one of only four 19th century players to have 2000 hits, 1000 runs, 1000 RBI, and 300 stolen bases
- Steady and durable, he always had 500+ at-bats
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