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Merito Acosta

Outfield
  • Series: Diamond Heads '15
  • City: Washington, D.C.
  • Team: Senators
  • League: American League
  • Hall: Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame

Baldomero Pedro Acosta Fernandez (1896-1963) began playing winter ball in his native Cuba in 1913 and debuted the same year with the Washington Senators as one of the first of his countrymen to play in MLB. As a sixteen-year-old that spring, The Sporting Life had heralded the young Cuban as “a second Ty Cobb.” That lofty promise went unfilled in American ball, as Merito played part time in the outfield, only making 200+ plate appearances twice with Washington. He finished his major league career in 1918 with the Philadelphia Athletics where he logged his best year at bat, hitting .302. Acosta was part of two remarkable feats in his career: in 1915 he and Chick Gandil walked, were sacrificed along and Gandil scored on a sac fly to record a rare run without an official at-bat in the inning. In 1919 with Havana, the fleet-footed center fielder accomplished an unassisted triple-play, racing to second after the catch to tag the bag and the runner coming from first. Acosta found a new home with the Louisville Colonels of the minor league American Association from 1919-28.

  • In 1922/23 Acosta was named manager of a new Cuban franchise in Marianao and led them to the championship
  • Elected to Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame: 1955

Auction History

Gabby Street

Catcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Washington, D.C.
  • Team: Senators
  • League: American League

Charles Evard Street (1882-1951) was a catcher, manager and broadcaster over a long and storied career. He made news for two stunts: catching a ball dropped from the Wash. Monument (on his 13th try) and putting himself in for one AB as mgr of the Cards in ’31, giving him the “record” of longest gap between ML appearances.

  • Led St Louis to 2 pennants and one Series win in 1931
  • Mentored Walter Johnson and, in the booth, a young Harry Caray

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Gabby Street

George McBride

Shortstop
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Washington, D.C.
  • Team: Senators
  • League: American League

George Florian McBride (1880-1973) became a regular SS for the Senators in 1908. A modest hitter but a wonder with the glove, McBride led the AL in fielding % 4 straight years. Nicknamed “Pinch” for his ability to hit in the clutch. Among long-time players, McBride ranks last in BA at .218 for those with more than 5000 ABs.

  • Succeeded Clark Griffith as mgr in ’21, but an injury forced him to retire the next year
  • Returned for 2 yrs with Cobb’s Tigers in 1925-6, serving as his “first lieutenant”

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: George McBride

Walter Johnson

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Washington, D.C.
  • Team: Senators
  • League: American League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Walter Perry Johnson (1887-1946) played his entire 21-yr career for the Senators then managed them for 4 more. Ty Cobb’s first impression was of a “rube out of the cornfields.” But when the rube threw “The thing just hissed with danger.” Cobb wasn’t the last player to be stunned by this man’s fastball: Most shut-outs in MLB, 2nd in wins, 4th in complete games, etc.

  • Only member of 3000 SO club until Bob Gibson joined in 1974
  • Still holds record 12x league-leader in strikeouts
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1936

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Walter Johnson

Kid Elberfeld

Third Base
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Washington, D.C.
  • Team: Senators
  • League: American League

Norman Arthur Elberfeld (1875-1944), nicknamed the “Tabasco Kid” for his fiery temper and violent outbursts against umpires, covered 2nd base with a ferocity that daunted even Ty Cobb – who never slid head-first again after losing an encounter with Elberfeld’s spikes. Played mostly SS for 7 teams, 1898-1914 and was a solid hitter (.271 lifetime).

  • Never afraid to take a spike, a punch or a pitch, he still ranks 13th on hit-batter list
  • Career stats suffered from frequent suspensions and injuries
  • Had a knack for mentoring young players, including rookie Casey Stengel

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Kid Elberfeld