- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Chicago
- Team: Leland Giants
- League: Cuban-American Negro Clubs Series
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Andrew Foster (1879-1930) was “the foremost manager and executive in history of the Negro Leagues” according to his Cooperstown plaque. He is known by many as “the Father of Negro Baseball,” a title earned by decades of playing greatness on the mound, managing championship teams, and founding the Negro NL in 1920. John McGraw recruited Foster to instruct his pitchers. Foster is said to have taught Mathewson the screwball. His nickname may derive from his defeat of Waddell in one of many exhibitions with the “real” big leaguers.
- Honus Wagner said Foster was “one of the greatest pitchers of all-time”
- But it was his brilliance as an executive that left a legacy of greatness in African-American history as the league he founded finally gave a national platform for the talents of black players
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1981
Auction History
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T201 Mecca Canvas: JB Seymour
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Naps
- League: American League
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.
- In 1914, lured to the new Federal League, he continued his success for one more year
- The Federal League and Falkenberg both flamed out the following year
- Retired to San Francisco and became an entrepreneur for his favorite game: bowling
Auction History
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Cy Falkenberg
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Detroit
- Team: Tigers
- League: American League
William Edward Donovan (1876-1923) paid a $10 fine for earning his nickname, awarded after walking 9 straight for his minor league Hartford team. He went on to a fine ML career over 18 years with 4 clubs as player & manager. He emerged from Brooklyn’s bullpen obscurity to compile a 25-15, 2.77 ERA record in 1901 & really came into his own with the Tigers from ’03-12. He led his team & the AL with a 25-4 mark in ’07, still the franchise’s best winning %. Like his Detroit mates, Donovan struggled in his World Series opportunities, going 1-4 & earning the dubious distinction of losing two straight finales in ’08 and ’09. Until his arm gave out in ’12, Donovan was a consistent closer & still ranks 50th all-time in complete games.
- Donovan stayed in baseball as manager of the New Haven Profs in the EL. He was en route to Chicago for winter meetings when he died in a train wreck of the 20th Century Limited
- Lifetime: 378 games, 186 Ws with 289 completed & a 2.69 ERA
Auction History
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Wild Bill Donovan
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Spiders
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Denton True Young (1867-1955) embodied excellence among ML pitchers. Baseball waited one year after his death to establish the award for annual greatness in his honor. Young’s 511 wins are still the hallmark. In 19 of his 21 seasons, he was in the top 10 in innings pitched. With Nap Lajoie, Young gave the upstart AL credibility when he jumped to the new circuit in 1901.
- In his 30s & 40s, led Boston’s Red Sox to 192 victories
- Pitched the 1st perfect game from 60’6”, beating Rube Waddell on 5/5/04
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1937
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Boston
- Team: Beaneaters
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Victor Gazaway Willis (1876-1947) pitched for the Beaneaters, Pirates and Cards over a 13-year career. The “Delaware Peach” was renowned for finishing his starts (388 of 471.) Willis won 22 of the Pirates’ 110 victories in 1909, leading his team to the World Series against Ty Cobb’s Tigers.
- Still holds the NL (modern) record for complete games: 45 in 1902
- Hurled his only no-hitter in 1899 (the last of the 19th Century)
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1995
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