- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Reds (NL)
- League: National League
Henry Knight Groh (1889-1968) was one of the best all-around third baseman in baseball. He is considered the National League’s premier specialist at the hot corner during the Deadball Era in which he starred for the Giants and Reds. Groh set fielding records in numerous categories, some of which have never been exceeded in the long history of the Senior Circuit. As good as he was at his position, the diminutive Groh was even more effective at bat, wielding an unusual “bottle bat” to enable his small hands to bunt and hit-and-run with the best. Heinie came up with McGraw’s Giants in 1912 but was soon shipped to Cincinnati where he emerged as a talented lead-off-hitting second-baseman. When manager Buck Herzog moved Groh to third, his career skyrocketed. He chafed under the Reds’ leadership, holding out, getting a chance to return to NY, then having Judge Landis veto the deal lest a player gain actual leverage over ownership. In 1922 Groh finally rejoined his original team and helped them to the pennant.
- His performance in the Series that year was sensational, including a .474 average that Groh kept on his Ohio license plate the rest of his life
- Led the NL in double plays six times and fielding % five times, both still records
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Reds (NL)
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Clark Calvin Griffith (1869-1955) was a successful pitcher for over 20 years but had only just begun his baseball career. AL founder Ban Johnson prevailed on Griffith to take the helm of the NY entry into the new league in 1903. That began a tenure as manager and owner that lasted until Griffith’s death in 1955. With a showman’s touch and a veteran player’s savvy, Griffith turned around the D.C. franchise.
- Only one in history to be a player, manager and owner for over 20 years in each role
- Counted eight U.S. presidents as friends during his long tenure as owner of the Senators
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Harry Baker
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Reds (NL)
- League: National League
Edward Leslie Grant (1883-1918) had a cup of coffee replacing an ailing Nap Lajoie with the Indians at the end of the 1905 season, upon his graduation from Harvard. Caught on with the Phillies ’07-10, then played for the Reds and Giants thru 1915. An early enlistee for WWI, Grant became the 1st ML veteran to die in that conflict, leading a heroic search for the “Lost Battalion.”
- A Harvard lawyer (’09), Grant refused to holler “I Got It!,” preferring “I Have It!”
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Eddie Grant
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Reds (NL)
- League: National League
Samuel Wright Jr. (1848-1928) has two brothers in the Hall of Fame: Harry and George. Alas, Sam’s .168 BA in 45 games over 4 seasons did not qualify him. Sam broke in with the New Haven Elm Citys of the NAPBP, considered by some a major league. Their 7-40 record led to their demise after one year.
- The Wright brothers’ father Sam was a prominent cricketer
- In Sam’s debut, he got a hit against brother Harry’s Red Stockings before being shellacked
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Red Stockings (AA)
- League: American Association
Charles N. Snyder’s (1854-1924) 18 year career was bookended by Washington clubs: the Blue Legs of the NA and the Statesmen of the AA. As a catcher, he set many records. He won the inaugural championship of the American Assoc in 1882 as player-mgr w/Cincinnati. He was also on the pennant-winning Boston Red Caps in ’78.
- Umpired for the Players’ League in ’91; went on to officiate in 4 leagues
- Records included putouts, assists, double plays and fielding %, all as catcher
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