- Series: Pilgrims
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Browns (AL)
- League: American League
Frank Breyfogle LaPorte (1880-1939) was an infielder for the Highlanders, Red Sox, Browns and Senators before ending his career in the ill-fated Federal League. His best year in the AL was 1911 when he hit a career-high .314. LaPorte struggled with a reputation for uninspired play and was bounced from club to club before trying the new “outlaw” Federal League.
- In 1912, led by Walter Johnson, was one of several players who saved many from a Detroit hotel fire
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Frank Laporte
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Cardinals
- League: National League
Edward J. Konetchy (1885-1947) reminisced about growing up in LaCrosse “when we used to get pictures of athletes out of cigarette boxes.” The big kid from Wisconsin not only carved out a worthy career as a NL 1st baseman, he lived to see himself on a few of those picture cards. “Koney” was the Cardinals’ best hitter & such a consistent speedster & fielder that John McGraw observed “Konetchy is worth the whole team,” & often tried to trade for him. A train wreck cast a pall over the Cards’ 1st good year with their young infielder, 1911. Many never recovered from the fatalities they witnessed, yet Koney & manager Roger Bresnahan were heroes, rescuing as many as they could. Many teams coveted the star & Pittsburgh finally pried Koney away from St. Louis in ’14.
- Konetchy was a marvel of consistency afield & at bat. He compiled more hits (2150) than games played (2085), a .285 BA, 992 RBI & 255 SBs
- Hit safely in 10 consecutive ABs in ’19 & stole home twice against Boston, 9/30/07
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T201 Mecca Canvas: James Stephans
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Cardinals
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Miller James Huggins (1879-1929) played 2B for the Reds and Cards (1904-16), then managed the Cards and Yankees during the latter’s dominant decade, winning 6 AL pennants and 3 World Series. Despite a low-key style, Huggins shook up the NY roster, drawing heavily from the Red Sox and even reined in the mighty Babe, laying the groundwork for Murderers’ Row.
- Presided over consecutive World Series sweeps in 1927 & 28
- Following Huggins’ untimely death at age 50, all AL games were canceled in tribute
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1964
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Miller Huggins
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Browns (AA)
- League: American Association
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Charles Albert Comiskey (1859-1931) rose from decent first-baseman to become one of the foremost managers and owners of baseball’s early decades. “The Old Roman’s” leadership skills emerged with his first team, the newly-minted St. Louis Browns whom he piloted to four pennants. He would go on to compile an outstanding 840-541 record. His .608 winning percentage is third-highest behind Joe McCarthy and Jim Mutrie. “Commy” parlayed his ownership of the Western Association’s Dubuque Rabbits into a franchise in the American League which he helped found in 1901. He built the White Sox stadium in 1910 which would bear his name for the next 81 years and presided for the next decade over one of the most talented and troubled teams in history. While many dismiss the charge that it was Comiskey’s penurious ways that “drove” his 1919 squad to infamy, there is no doubt he was a cheapskate of the first order. He underpaid, over-promised and reneged with abandon, epitomizing the arrogance of the reserve-clause era.
- Charles is credited with revolutionizing play at first-base, innovating play off the bag
- Owned the Chicago White Sox from 1901-1931, winning two World Series
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1939
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Browns (AA)
- League: American Association
Richard D. Buckley (1858-1929) was a catcher with four teams over an eight-year career in the majors. He started with the Indianapolis Hoosiers in 1888 where he was behind the plate in 51 of his 71 games. Dick hit a robust .273 his rookie season. He played two full campaigns in Indiana, two with the Giants, two with St Louis and finished with two more with the Phillies, closing his MLB tenure in 1895 with a fine overall batting average of .245. Buckley wasn’t through with pro ball however, continuing in the minors with Midwest clubs until retiring at age 42 with the Omaha Omahogs of the Western League.
- Buckley was born to the game: in Troy, NY just at the beginnings of organized ball. In 1860 the Victories of Troy were one of 62 teams in the new NABBP, reconstituted in ‘66 as the Unions of Lansingburgh (a neighborhood in north Troy) where young Dick would have seen baseball’s finest come through town
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