- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Cincinnati
- Team: Reds (NL)
- League: National League
Edward Leslie Grant (1883-1918) had a cup of coffee replacing an ailing Nap Lajoie with the Indians at the end of the 1905 season, upon his graduation from Harvard. Caught on with the Phillies ’07-10, then played for the Reds and Giants thru 1915. An early enlistee for WWI, Grant became the 1st ML veteran to die in that conflict, leading a heroic search for the “Lost Battalion.”
- A Harvard lawyer (’09), Grant refused to holler “I Got It!,” preferring “I Have It!”
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Eddie Grant
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Pittsburgh
- Team: Pirates
- League: National League
- Hall: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
George C. Gibson (1880-1967) was the epitome of the defensive, canny catcher. Despite the punishment at this position, Gibson shattered the MLB mark in ’09 for consecutive games caught. He lasted 21 years, helped the Pirates beat the Cobb-led Tigers in ’09. Stayed in baseball as one of the 1st Canadian managers with Pittsburgh and the Cubs.
- From 1908-10, Gibson averaged 144 games caught, unheard of in that era
- Led NL in fielding % three times
- Elected to Canadian BB Hall of Fame: 1987
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T201 Mecca Canvas: George Gibson
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Arthur Fletcher (1885-1950) was cut from the same cloth as the fiery John McGraw for whom he starred for over a decade. When McGraw took his Giants to Dallas in 1908 he saw a cocky kid who played ball the way he did, not just with glove and bat but with fists and mouth. He took young Art (who off the field was a temperate, whole-souled gentleman) to New York, and soon installed him as the replacement for local hero Al Bridwell at short. It didn’t take long for Fletcher to vindicate his mentor as his strong batting and slick fielding anchored an all-star infield for three straight pennants. In all, Fletcher played in four World Series under McGraw. Fletcher managed the Phillies before finding a home as coach for the Yankees, a post he held until a heart attack forced his retirement after nineteen seasons. It has been said that, in his four appearances as a player and ten as coach, Art cashed more World Series checks than anyone.
- Art came to detest being field general. His time with the Phils was not happy, aggravated by a raw relationship with renowned umpire Bill Klem. He was content to stay in coaching and leave the managing to Miller Huggins and Joe McCarthy
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Russell Ford
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Chicago
- Team: Cubs
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
John Joseph Evers (1881-1947) was immortalized as the pivot man with Joe Tinker and Frank Chance in the most famous double-play combo of all time. Evers was a good-hitting, slick-fielding 2nd baseman, winning World Series with the Cubs and Braves. A fiery-tempered man, Evers was said to have had more impact on a team than any at his position.
- The quintessential “small ball” player, Evers excelled in bunts, steals and heads-up play
- Saved a pennant race for Chicago by calling ump’s attention to Fred Merkle’s “Boner”
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Johnny Evers
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Lawrence Joseph Doyle (1886-1974) was one of the premier 2nd basemen of the NL for much of his 14 yr career, most of it with the Giants. Led the league in several hitting categories including BA in ’15, hits in ’09. He also won 3 pennants and was MVP in 1912. His .290 lifetime avg. was 4th among veteran 2nd basemen.
- Still holds modern Giant record for triples in a season — 25 in 1911
- In 1913 became 1st to hit a HR out of the Polo Grounds
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Larry Doyle
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