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Reilly & Nicol

  • Series: 1880s: Diamond Duos
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Red Stockings (AA)
  • League: American Association

John Reilly:

John Good Reilly (1858-1937) was a one-man Big Red Machine long before the days of Bench, Morgan and Rose. When he was replaced at first base by Charles Comiskey in 1892, Long John held the Cincinnati record in singles, doubles, triples, home runs, runs scored, RBI, and games played. His decade with the Reds had seen Reilly consistently rank in the league top ten in most offensive categories. In addition, his lean 6’3” frame made him a welcome target for his teammates. To this day, after more than a century of powerhouses in the Queen City, Reilly remains one of only four in team history to twice lead the league in HRs. In 2012 he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame, which according to the team’s website is the oldest continually operating team Hall of Fame.

  • Reilly had been orphaned at age three when his father died in the Battle of Fort Donelson while serving as captain of a Union ironclad gunboat
  • Long John grew up in Cincinnati as a professional artist until lured by his love of baseball. He was loyal to his hometown, retiring rather than moving to another club
  • Career home runs were impressive for the era at 69

Hugh Nicol:

Hugh N. Nicol (1858-1921) was one of the great “little men” in all of baseball. This Scottish immigrant arrived in Rockford, IL in 1865 and grew up playing a mid-west style of ball that would suit him for great accomplishments in the major leagues. After only two years with his hometown White Stockings, the Chicago version called him up to Cap Anson's powerhouse in 1881. He was only a part-timer for the champion club in his first two seasons before his speed caught the attention of Chris Von der Ahe and Hugh moved to the Browns. “Little Nic” became a favorite with his outfield speed and accurate arm. Measuring speed on the bases is particularly challenging in evaluating 19th century players as “stolen bases” didn't factor into record-keeping for a long time and rules changed into the '90s. Nevertheless, Nicol's 138 steals credited in 1887 surely rank him among the greats. SABR's Charles Faber notes that this accomplishment came at age 29, leaving it to the imagination how many this speedster swiped in his early years. Hugh set this all-time record for his new club, the Reds, after being part of MLB's first trade. Von der Ahe sent Nicol to Cincinnati for Jack Doyle and $400 after the '86 campaign. His fame preceded Hugh to the Queen City, as reported by The Sporting News: “Hugh Nicol's addition to the Cincinnati team means chain-lightening on the bases. He is worth all the young blood in Christendom.” The diminutive (5'4” 145lbs) utility man never hit very well, although he did shine in his first season in St Louis with a .285 average. His ten-year ML tenure saw him hit .235 for three clubs before returning to the minors and a managerial career that lasted through the 1905 season with various Illinois teams.

  • The light-hitting Nicol had a highlight game for the Browns in late 1883 as the club was seeking to overtake the Phils. Hugh went five-for-five with a walk and scored five times. The Browns fell one game short of Philadelphia for the pennant

Auction History

Cartophilia

Old Judge Pose: 346-7

Pop Corkhill

Outfield
  • Series: Beginnings: 1880's
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Red Stockings (AA)
  • League: American Association

John Stewart Corkhill (1858-1921) was an excellent fielder who found steady work in the outfields of the Red Stockings and Bridegrooms from 1883-90. Pop was still in demand and played out his career in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh before a beanball served up by Ed Crane prompted the veteran to hang ‘em up in 1892. Corkhill led the league in fielding several times, twice with his first club in Cincinnati and twice in Brooklyn where he played for pennant-winners in ‘89 (NL) and ‘90 (AA). A clutch hitter, Pop drove in 97/97/93 during a fine stretch from 1886-88. Proving his versatility, Corkhill made relief appearances in five seasons. He recorded two saves in an era not known for bullpen assistance.

  • Corkhill was acquired by Brooklyn late in the ‘88 season along with the notoriously voluble Oyster Burns as owner Charles Byrne assembled a powerful squad
  • Pop’s NY Times obituary noted that he had established a record with Cincinnati, playing three consecutive years without dropping a fly ball
  • Corkhill passed away at home following surgery. It is unknown whether this was related to his career-ending injury

Auction History

Billy Serad

Pitcher
  • Series: Beginnings: 1880's
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Red Stockings (AA)
  • League: American Association

William I. Serad (1863-1925) pitched for two major-league teams, the Buffalo Bisons and Cincinnati Reds, from 1884-88. His entire time in pro ball included seven teams over eight years. His performance in the minors was consistently better, earning him chances where he failed to rise above mediocrity, attested by his ML 35-55, 4.13 ERA record. Billy surrendered 34 HRs and was particularly victimized by Anson’s White Stockings who jumped on 15 of his offerings. He appears to have been plagued by nerves, in evidence during his debut when he walked 3 and scored 2 on wild pitches in the first inning. As a weak hitter, the manager had nowhere else to put him until he could settle down. Unlike better-hitting pitchers, Billy had to make it solely on his mound prowess which didn’t quite measure up.

  • Billy wasn’t a total failure by any means. In his rookie year he won 16 of the Bisons’ 62 victories en route to a third-place finish

Auction History

Gus Schmelz

Manager
  • Series: Beginnings: 1880's
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Red Stockings (AA)
  • League: American Association

Gustavus Heinrich Schmelz (1850-1925) managed minor and major league teams for 15 years, was popular with his players and had modest success at both levels. He was denied a pennant as second-place was the highest any team achieved under his direction. Gus led his hometown Columbus Buckeyes in the American Association in 1884 where he witnessed two of his staff hurl no-hitters within a week. Interspersed with minor league assignments, Gus managed Cincinnati’s Red Stockings for three seasons, returned to Columbus (then the Solons), and also had three NL teams: the St Louis Maroons, Cleveland Spiders and Washington Senators. Gus managed the Atlanta franchise of the newly formed Southern League in 1885 and witnessed the tragic death of one of his players. A violent collision at first base caused a ruptured liver for Lewis Henke. Schmelz had the sad duty of conducting the funeral for his strapping first-sacker who was the runner when injured on Aug 14. The Atlanta Constitution noted Henke was “…perhaps the most popular player in the Southern League.”

  • Schmelz compiled a major league record of 624 wins against 703 losses (.470)

Auction History

Tony Mullane

Pitcher
  • Series: Beginnings: 1880's
  • City: Cincinnati
  • Team: Red Stockings (AA)
  • League: American Association

Anthony John Mullane (1859-1944) won 284 games over a 13 year career with 7 teams, primarily in the AA. In 2010 he was inducted into the Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame. When the NL added 10.5 feet from mound to plate, Mullane was never the same pitcher. The next year (’94) he surrendered 16 first inning runs to the Beaneaters.

  • Ambidextrous, Mullane held the ball in both hands, disguising his intended offering
  • Lost a season (’85) to suspension amidst his string of five 30-win years
  • Mullane was voted SABR's Overlooked 19th Century Legend for 2015

Auction History