- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Boston
- Team: Red Sox
- League: American League
Howard Ellsworth “Smoky Joe” Wood (1889-1985) was honored at age 95 with a doctorate from Yale, the institution for whom he coached for 20 years following his ML career. In 1912 for the Red Sox, Wood joined an elite list of 30-game winners, going 34-5. In one of the most dramatic duels ever, Wood defeated Walter Johnson 1-0, himself fresh off a 16-game win streak, gaining his 14th straight and would go on to tie Johnson’s AL record string. Wood then climaxed his phenomenal year by leading the Sox over McGraw’s Giants in a Series for the ages at brand-new Fenway Park.
- A broken thumb in ’13 left Wood impaired, but he went on to a fine OF role for the Indians
- Said Walter Johnson: “No man alive can throw harder than Smoky Joe Wood.”
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Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Tommy Clarke
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
George Leroy Wiltse (1879-1959) played for McGraw’s Giants for 11 years (1904-14.) His tandem with Mathewson produced 435 wins, one of the best left/right duos in history. His nickname may not have come from his wicked curve but from his tenacity with the glove. Set a rookie record winning his 1st 12 starts.
- Wiltse was McGraw’s only lefty until Rube Marquard joined the rotation in 1909
- To his lasting chagrin, Wiltse was the 1st base coach when Fred Merkle missed 2nd base
- On May 15, 1906 struck out 7 batters in two innings after Bresnahan dropped strike 3
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Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Wiltse Hooks
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Chicago
- Team: Giants (IND)
- League: Independent
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Joseph Williams (1886-1951) may have been the best pitcher never to appear in the major leagues. He starred in the Negro Leagues and in Cuba and Mexico over a 27-year career. His best year was 1914 (an amazing 41-3). Playing against MLB players in barnstorming games, Williams compiled a 20-7 record over the “best” in the game.
- At age 44 in 1930, closed his career with a 1-0, 12-inning win striking out 27 KC Monarchs
- That same year, in his only confrontation with the rising star, beat Satchel Paige 1-0.
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1999
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: John Thoney
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Brooklyn
- Team: Royal Giants
- League: Independent
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
King Solomon White (1868-1955). An infielder, manager, executive, sportswriter, and historian, Sol was also influential in establishing the Negro Leagues. Well traveled, White played for 11 different teams over 24 seasons. In 1907, White published the first history of black baseball, Sol White’s History of Colored Baseball.
- Credited with a lifetime batting average of .356
- Batted .404 in 1895
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 2006
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Harry Hinchman
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Chicago
- Team: White Sox
- League: American League
Guy Harris White (1879-1969) lived a long life and, at the end of it, had the grace to congratulate the Dodger pitcher who finally exceeded his shut-out record that had stood for 68 years. Doc White began his adult life as a dental surgeon and ended it as an itinerant evangelist. He was a gifted musician and songwriter, a minor league owner, a prize-winning horticulturalist, a college coach and mentor to young athletes. And to the end, he bemoaned the lack of discipline among major league pitchers who couldn’t go a few innings without issuing a walk. And he knew something about that: for 13 seasons Doc pitched for the Phillies and White Sox (the “No-Hit Wonders”) winning 189 games with a 2.39 ERA and better control than most pitchers in history. He threw 24 1-0 games, winning 13. He dueled Walter Johnson, besting him in 11 innings and, 5 days later, grinding to a 1-1 tie after 17 more.
- Helped the Sox to their first World Series championship in 1906 going 18-6
- The following year he won 27, and was always at or near the top in walks per game
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Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Ed Killian
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