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Rube Waddell

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: St. Louis
  • Team: Browns (AL)
  • League: American League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

George E. Waddell (1876-1914) was one of the premier pitchers in MLB history and also a man-child who’d leave the dugout and chase a fire truck. His titanic struggles with Cy Young made for the greatest pitching duels of all time. Connie Mack described his curve as the “fastest and deepest I’ve ever seen.”

  • Waddell’s perplexing personal and social problems led to a shortened career and life
  • Driven to distraction, Mack sold Rube to the Browns for the ’08 season, his last hurrah
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Lefty Leifield

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

Terry Turner

Shortstop
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Cleveland
  • Team: Naps
  • League: American League

Terrance Lamont Turner (1881-1960) holds the record for games played for the Cleveland Indian franchise. He played short and 3rd for the Naps/Indians for 15 of his 17 yr career. He was an intrepid base-stealer, pioneering the head-first slide to protect painful ankles. His team record for SBs stood until 1996.

  • Also holds Cleveland team record for most put-outs with 4,603
  • Broke up 3 no-hitters and Chief Bender’s near perfect game with a 4th inning walk

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Terry Turner

Ira Thomas

Catcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Philadelphia
  • Team: Athletics (AL)
  • League: American League

Ira Felix Thomas (1881-1958) was a catcher for 10 yrs in the AL, playing for the Highlanders, Tigers and Athletics. His best year was 1911 with Connie Mack’s dominant team. Thomas was the maestro’s captain as the Athletics won pennants in 4 of 5 years. Thomas’ career BA was a very respectable .242.

  • In his only Series with the Tigers, Thomas became the 1st successful pinch hitter in a World Series
  • Was 8th in MVP balloting for the 1911 season

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Ira Thomas

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