Roy Allen Hartzell (1881-1961) was a versatile infielder/outfielder for the St Louis Browns and NY Highlanders (Yankees) from 1906-16. A NY Times article in 1914 called him the “handiest utility man the Yankees ever had…” After his ML career, Hartzell returned to his CO home to manage the Denver Bears.
T201 Mecca Canvas: Roy Hartzell
William Lawrence Gardner (1886-1976) is celebrated in his hometown of Enosburg Falls, VT as the best baseball player to come out of the Green Mt state. He anchored 3B for the Red Sox and Indians winning 4 world titles. Was the hero of the 1912 Series, driving in the winning run after two Giants’ miscues in the 10th inning.
T201 Mecca Canvas: Larry Gardner
Elmer Harrison Flick (1876-1971) subbed for injured Sam Thompson in right field for the Phillies in 1898, beginning a 13-year run as a powerful hitter with great speed on the bases. After joining Cleveland in 1902, Flick became such a fixture that he earned his place in trivia lore as the player the Naps kept rather than trade for a young Ty Cobb. He and teammates Nap Lajoie and Addie Joss are among only 6 modern players to make the Hall of Fame with no World Series appearance on their resumés.
T201 Mecca Canvas: Joseph Lake
Frederick Peter Falkenberg (1879-1961) pitched for 7 ML clubs over a 15-year career from 1903-17, laboring in obscurity and mediocrity until he emerged in 1913 (at age 32) with a secret weapon that transformed him into a world-beater. For one meteoric season he went 23-10 with a 2.22 ERA using the “emery ball,” a legal but dubious pitch that practitioners kept on the down-low.
T201 Mecca Canvas: Cy Falkenberg
William George Evans (1884-1956) began as the youngest ML umpire and went on to a Hall of Fame career of whom a top Yankee pitcher said “He is the best, fairest and squarest umpire in the league.” A rare official with no playing experience, Evans quickly established his credibility in a rowdy era. In “one of the most disgraceful scenes ever witnessed on a ball field” his skull was fractured by a hurled bottle in a Browns/Tigers game.
T201 Mecca Canvas: Harry Gasper
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