- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
John Tortes Meyers (1880-1971, a Native American in a benighted era, “Chief” faced many hurdles in becoming perhaps the best hitting catcher of his day. Literate, poised and good-humored, Meyers gained fame as battery-mate to Christy Mathewson, hitting over .300 for 3 consecutive Giants pennants, 1911-13.
- Toured the vaudeville circuit occasionally in an act with Mathewson they called “Curves”
- Hit .358 in 1912 and was third in the MVP balloting
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Chief Meyers
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Carl Frederick Rudolf Merkle (1888-1956) was called by a teammate “the smartest man on the club.” One misstep, one quick decision not to continue to 2nd base, left this “gentleman and scholar” to endure the scorn of contemporary fans and much of baseball lore for his infamous “boner,” committed in his rookie year. His boss, John McGraw, was much more forgiving and Merkle went on to fine career, including 5 Series in 8 years.
- Merkle was the youngest player in the game when he failed to run out what would have been his game-winning (and pennant-winning) hit
- Umpire Hank O’Day was said to have been looking for the chance to enforce a widely-ignored rule, and chose a moment that got all of baseball’s attention
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Fred Merkle
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- 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
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Al Mattern
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Christopher Mathewson (1880-1925) was the consummate right hander of the early 20th Century. His “fadeaway” pitch baffled NL hitters from 1900-16. Mathewson won 22+ 12 straight years, 30+ 4x, and holds the modern NL record with his 37 wins in 1908. He hurled 3 shut-outs in 6 days to gain his sole world championship in 1905.
- One of the “first five” into Cooperstown
- Accomplished all this while honoring his Christian faith by not pitching on Sundays
- This Pilgrims card duplicates and preserves the uncorrected spelling error on Mathewson's original T201 Mecca card
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1936
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Christy Matthewson (sic)
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Richard William Marquard (1886-1980) was a dominant left-hander with the Giants, Robins, Reds and Braves from 1908-25. His Hall of Fame plaque highlights his outstanding performance for NY’s consecutive titles 1911-13 with 23+ wins each year and a record 19 in a row. This streak vindicated the outlandish $11K price the Giants paid to get him from the American Assoc.
- The nickname wasn’t a “bumpkin” reference but a comparison to Waddell
- Helped Brooklyn to pennants in 1916 & 1920
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1971
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Arthur McCabe
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