- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
James Francis Thorpe (1888-1953) grew up in the Sac and Fox nation in Oklahoma, a hardscrabble existence that saw him in and out of boarding schools. Orphaned and troubled, the teenager found himself in faraway Pennsylvania and came under the tutelage of the renowned Pop Warner. Thorpe’s athletic skill would carry him to heights few have attained, a Renaissance man of sport, bestride the 20th Century. Acclaimed as the world’s greatest athlete in the 1912 Olympics where Thorpe played in two exhibition baseball games, presaging a professional career. A rare “free agent” in the era of the reserve clause, he was able to choose the Giants over the last-place Browns during the 1913 season. He played sporadically but went to the World Series and was the star of the global tour of Giants/White Sox players that off-season.
- Team owners caromed Thorpe from team to team with limited playing time, ending his MLB tenure with the Boston Braves in 1919
- Hit the ball that Hippo Vaughn misplayed, ending the remarkable “double-no-hitter” in 1917
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Naps
- League: American League
Terrance Lamont Turner (1881-1960) holds the record for games played for the Cleveland Indian franchise. He played short and 3rd for the Naps/Indians for 15 of his 17 yr career. He was an intrepid base-stealer, pioneering the head-first slide to protect painful ankles. His team record for SBs stood until 1996.
- Also holds Cleveland team record for most put-outs with 4,603
- Broke up 3 no-hitters and Chief Bender’s near perfect game with a 4th inning walk
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Terry Turner
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Phillies
- League: National League
John Franklin Titus (1876-1943) was an outfielder for the Phillies and Boston Braves, 1903-13. He averaged .282 at the plate with a .373 OBP. His one place in the NL record book was for being hit by 16 pitches in 1909. In his 2nd game, snapped the Pirates’ 56 inning scoreless string with an RBI.
- Titus’ trademarks were a taciturn manner and an ever-present toothpick
- Two broken legs and a beaning put this speedy player out of the game before his time
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: John Titus
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Chicago
- Team: Cubs
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Joseph Bert Tinker (1880-1948) sparkled at short, helping the Cubs to 4 pennants and 2 Series wins. He and fellow rookie Johnny Evers turned their first double-play to Frank Chance on Sep 13, 1902. A fight over a cab ride left Tinker and Evers estranged for years, but didn’t prevent them from playing 2nd “like one man, not two.” Tinker was widely held to be second only to Honus Wagner at SS, leading the league in many fielding categories. As skilled as he was afield, Tinker was also one of the great clutch hitters. Christy Mathewson deemed him the NL player he least wanted to see.
- On June 28, 1910 Tinker became one of a handful to steal home twice in a game
- Asked to leave the Cubs when Evers was made manager in 1913 but filled that role himself after a hiatus with the Federal League
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Frederick Payne
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AL)
- League: American League
Ira Felix Thomas (1881-1958) was a catcher for 10 yrs in the AL, playing for the Highlanders, Tigers and Athletics. His best year was 1911 with Connie Mack’s dominant team. Thomas was the maestro’s captain as the Athletics won pennants in 4 of 5 years. Thomas’ career BA was a very respectable .242.
- In his only Series with the Tigers, Thomas became the 1st successful pinch hitter in a World Series
- Was 8th in MVP balloting for the 1911 season
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Ira Thomas
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