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Frank Chance

Manager
  • Series: Diamond Heads '15
  • City: New York
  • Team: Yankees
  • League: American League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Frank Leroy Chance (1876-1924) was a tenacious and fiercely competitive MLB player-manager for the Cubs and Yankees and manager of the Red Sox. John L. Sullivan called him the “greatest amateur brawler of all time.” Chance brought that pugilistic spirit to the diamond, giving unruly fans and players as good as he got.

  • Joined the fraternity of the immortals in Cooperstown with the teammates with whom he is forever linked: Johnny Evers and Joe Tinker
  • Cubs’ owner gave Chance a 10% stake in the club as reward for stealing home from 2nd in a tied game
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946

Auction History

Hooks Wiltse

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: New York
  • Team: Giants
  • League: National League

George Leroy Wiltse (1879-1959) played for McGraw’s Giants for 11 years (1904-14.) His tandem with Mathewson produced 435 wins, one of the best left/right duos in history. His nickname may not have come from his wicked curve but from his tenacity with the glove. Set a rookie record winning his 1st 12 starts.

  • Wiltse was McGraw’s only lefty until Rube Marquard joined the rotation in 1909
  • To his lasting chagrin, Wiltse was the 1st base coach when Fred Merkle missed 2nd base
  • On May 15, 1906 struck out 7 batters in two innings after Bresnahan dropped strike 3

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Wiltse Hooks

Hippo Vaughn

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: New York
  • Team: Highlanders
  • League: American League

James Leslie Vaughn (1888-1966) threw to his catcher for an easy out in the tenth inning of a game against Cincinnati one cold afternoon in Chicago. The catcher stood with his hands at his side, the ball bounced off his chest protector and Hippo’s no-hit bid ended, along with the ballgame. The opposing pitcher, Fred Toney, recorded three more outs to get his own no-hitter. Vaughn’s response after such a curious debacle?: “…I wasn’t sore, I’s just lost another ballgame, that’s all.” Clearly Vaughn shed any disappointment as he went out the next season and led the Cubs and the league, winning the “triple crown” for pitchers. Hippo was one of the premier hurlers in baseball over a six year span but his loss to the Reds in the game’s only “double-no-hitter” will forever leave an indelible mark.

  • Recorded five 20-win seasons en route to 178 career victories
  • Pitched for NY 1908-12, Washington in 1912 and the Cubs from 1913-1921
  • No one knows how this strong 6’4” 215 lb workhorse acquired the unflattering nickname

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Reuben Oldring

Ed Sweeney

Catcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: New York
  • Team: Highlanders
  • League: American League

Edward Francis Sweeney (1888-1947) was a catcher for the Highlanders/Yankees (1908-15) with a brief return with the Pirates in 1919 following a wartime enlistment with the Navy and stints in the minors. Fleet of foot for his position, Sweeney still holds the club record with 19 steals in 1914.

  • Usually a reserve, his best year was 1913: .268 BA and 40 RBI in 117 games
  • Served the city of Chicago as an electrical switchman until his death at 58

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Ed Sweeney

Fred Snodgrass

Outfield
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: New York
  • Team: Giants
  • League: National League

Frederick Carlisle Snodgrass (1887-1974) broke into MLB with the Giants in ’08 and became a mainstay in the outfield by virtue of his speed & hitting. As proficient as he was at bat & on base, Snodgrass spent his career mired in controversy, especially on the big stage of the World Series: intentionally spiking Frank Baker, dropping a fly ball & later bringing down the house in Fenway after defiantly challenging the home folks. That incident prompted Boston’s mayor (“Vote often and early for James Michael Curley”) to stride on field and demand Snodgrass’ ouster. Fittingly, Fred was traded to the Bosox the next season.

  • Haunted throughout his life by the 1912 Series gaff, Snodgrass was spared the indignity of reading the headline on his NY Times obituary: “Fred Snodgrass, 86, Dead; Ball Player Muffed 1912 Fly.”
  • Harry Hooper, Boston’s fleet slugger, was robbed by Snodgrass on the next play. Hooper always defended Snodgrass, citing numerous other miscues that led to the Giants’ loss that day

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Arthur Hoffman