- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Baltimore
- Team: Orioles
- League: American Association
Michael Joseph Griffin (1865-1908) was an accomplished center fielder for the AA’s Orioles, the Players’ League’s Athletics and the NL’s Bridegrooms over 12 seasons. He batted over .300 six times, scored 100+ runs ten times and stole 473 bases. On 4/16/87 he became the 1st ML player to hit a HR in his first plate appearance. Ended his career as player-mgr for Brooklyn.
- Caught up in the Baltimore/Brooklyn merger in ’98, won a salary judgment of $2,300 and retired
- Managed local Utica breweries until his death from pneumonia at 43
- Griffin’s uniform color on this card was changed in May, 2017 from black to blue/red to reflect recent reliable research by Craig Brown & friends at Threads of Our Game. Nine cards had been previously released featuring a black uniform.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Baltimore
- Team: Orioles
- League: American Association
Thomas P. Burns (1864-1928) was an excellent player with four ML teams over 15 seasons. He starred for the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, leading them to two pennants in two leagues (1889 in the AA & 1890 in the NL.) His nickname derived from his offseason job hawking shellfish. He brought his huckstering skills to the park, annoying fellow players as “the noisiest man that ever played on the Brooklyn team.” He had a temper to match his mouth, once stabbing & severing a tendon of sleeping teammate Tom Daly, who was dozing on field between games of a double-header.
- NL home-run and RBI champion in 1890
- Compiled a .300 lifetime batting average
- Burns' uniform color on this card was changed in January, 2017 from black to blue & red to reflect recent reliable research by Craig Brown & friends at Threads of Our Game. Nine cards had been previously released featuring a black uniform.
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Baltimore
- Team: Orioles
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
John Joseph McGraw (1873-1934) was an innovative player (the hit-and-run, the “Baltimore chop”) but went on to true greatness as a manager for Baltimore and, most noteworthy, the NY Giants. Only Connie Mack’s teams won more games and no NL manager approached him. Not shabby as a hitter (ranks 3rd all time behind Ted Williams and Babe Ruth in OBP), has been called “the best player to become a great manager.”
- Played for and/or managed ten NL pennant winners
- Upon his death, McGraw’s wife discovered a list of all the African-American players he wanted to sign but was prevented
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1937
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Baltimore
- Team: Orioles
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Joseph James Kelley (1871-1943) was an outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles from 1893-98 and was one of the most productive hitters of the decade. Kelley had a knack for getting on base by hit or walk. He was among the league leaders in these categories as the Orioles won three straight pennants, then finished second his last two years in Baltimore. He helped the floundering Brooklyn Superbas (last in ‘98) to consecutive titles in 1899-1900. Joe’s defensive work was stunning. Playing in fast company for Baltimore (alongside John McGraw, Willie Keeler and Hughie Jennings), was such a stand-out he was dubbed “Kingpin of the Orioles.” In an outstanding 17-year MLB career, Joe hit .317 including eleven straight .300+ seasons. Always a leader, when his output began to decline, Kelley never had trouble finding teams who wanted him in the lineup and as a manager. The veteran maneuvered skillfully through the politics and intrigue that accompanied the founding of the American League. He even accepted the highest minor-league salary to-date to play for the International League’s Toronto Maple Leafs in ‘02 before returning to the NL.
- Kelley stayed in pro-ball through 1926 as a manager, scout and coach
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1971
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Baltimore
- Team: Orioles
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Hugh Ambrose Jennings (1869-1928) became the premier ML SS for the Orioles in the mid-90s, hitting .401 in ’96. Nearly killed by an Amos Rusie quick-pitch, this survivor returned to be hit 46x in ’96. Irrepressibly good-natured and brilliant, Jennings was an attorney and manager after his playing days, guiding the volcanic Ty Cobb to his phenomenal career.
- Still holds record for being hit by pitch (287)
- Is credited with inventing the platoon system
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1945
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