- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Lewis W. Whistler, nee Wissler, (1868-1959) played four years in the majors beginning with the Giants in 1890-91. He played for Baltimore and Louisville in ‘92 before concluding his stint in the big leagues with the Colonels and Browns in 1893. Lew was primarily a first-baseman but saw duty at short and outfield. Over the four years he batted .244 with 133 RBI and a dozen dingers. According to Baseball-Reference, Whistler had a career .976 fielding percentage at first base, ranking him with Cap Anson, Dan Brouthers, Joe Start and Harry Stovey albeit over a much shorter term. Lew had come into the minors in 1887 with the Wichita Braves of the Western League and hit .320 in 25 games. The following year saw him with four Texas clubs where he couldn’t hit much at all. A good season with the Senators in the Atlantic Association launched him to New York.
- Whistler played sporadically for a dozen teams in six minor leagues following his time with the Browns. He ended his pro career in the Southern League playing for two teams: the Montgomery Black Sox and Memphis Egyptians from 1903-05
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Michael Francis Welch (1859-1941). An elite pitcher for 13 professional seasons, Welch was the 3rd pitcher to reach 300 wins. Mickey was a 20-game winner 9 times in his career, 7 times in succession. He also won 30+ games 4 times and 40+ games once. Shared pitching duties with HOFers John Ward & Tim Keefe.
- 1st pinch hitter in Major League history, 9.10.89, when he pinch hit for fellow HOFer Hank O’Day
- Still holds record for consecutive K’s to start a game: 9
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1973
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Detroit
- Team: Wolverines
- League: National League
I made this card before I had clearly defined the parameters within which images would be used for each Ars Longa series. This image is actually an Old Judge image and I would greatly prefer to reassign it to the 1880s series. This particular card is now retired and I will likely replace it in this series with a different (but still excellent) image of Mr. Watkins.
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
“Monte” Ward (1860-1925). An elite pitcher and an excellent batsman, Ward also earned a law degree, formed sports’ first labor union, and helped create the Player’s League to challenge the reserve clause – all before the age of 30.
- 3x National League Pennant winner
- Only player: 100 wins/2,000 hits
- Pitched 2nd perfect game in history, June 17, 1880
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1964
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Spiders
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Rhoderick John Wallace (1873-1960) had a Hall of Fame career as a premier shortstop for 24 years before going on to one of the longest tenures in MLB as coach, manager, scout & even a short stint as an umpire. Playing primarily in St. Louis for the Cardinals & Browns, Wallace set records, including a mournful one: longest career by a player to never make the World Series.
- Too good a fielder to stay on the mound, became the premier defensive SS of his era
- In 1911, Pirates’ owner declared Wallace the one player in the AL he desired above all others
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1953
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