• Card series: Pioneer Portraits I: 1850-1874
• City: Baltimore
• Team: Canaries
• League: National Association (NAPBBP)

John Joseph Ryan (1853-1902) broke into the majors with the Philadelphia White Stockings of the NAPBBP in 1873, their first season in pro ball. The team finished second with a record of 36-17. He played for the cellar-dwelling Baltimore Canaries the following year, the franchise’s last. Ryan went to the New Haven Elm Citys in ’75, their only year in the league. In 1876 Ryan joined the Louisville Grays for their inaugural season. He ended his career in ’77 with Cincinnati. Ryan’s best year was with the Grays in ’76, hitting .253 with his only HR.

• Ryan became a Philly cop and died in the line of duty, while making an arrest in a bar fight