- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: New York
- Team: Gothams
- 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
- Sol White did not appear in the Old Judge series. This image is taken from a photo that appears in White's book, Sol White's History of Colored Baseball.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Detroit
- Team: Wolverines
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
James Laurie “Deacon” White (1847-1939). Considered the greatest catcher of baseball’s barehanded period (1870s), White eventually moved to 3rd base, played 23 seasons, won 6 championships, and played with a number of the century’s best players on a number of the century’s best teams.
- 1st person to bat in 1st pro league, in 1871, earning a hit – a double
- Reportedly believed the earth is flat
- 2 batting titles; 3 RBI titles
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 2013
- Although the Old Judge series features nine known poses of Deacon White (including the McGreachery pose), this photo was taken during the Tomlinson Studio photoshoot of 1886 in Detroit and is not known to exist in the Old Judge series.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AA)
- League: American Association
John Weyhing (1869-1890) was signed by the Cincinnati Red Stockings as one of the youngest players in the league at 19 in 1888. In eight games he went 3-4, but had a remarkable 1.23 ERA and completed seven games. He was victimized by poor defensive support: only nine of 26 runs charged were earned. The Columbus Solons bought his contract for ’89 but TB took his health and his life the next year.
- John’s older brother Gus was also an MLB pitcher
- Became one of only four big leaguers to die before age 21
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AA)
- League: American Association
August Weyhing (1866-1955) was a successful pitcher for 11 ML teams over a 14-year career from 1887-1901. A durable hurler, Gus stands 12th in complete games all-time, with 448 in 495 decisions. From 1889-92, Weyhing won 30+ games each year. In a career of firsts and lasts, he pitched the last season of the AA, the first and last of the Players’ League, the 1st year of the AL, and the Senators’ finale in the NL.
- Was NL saves leader in 1892
- Struck out 200+ four times and holds the record for hit-batters with 278
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Smiling Mickey (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
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