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John Montgomery Ward

Shortstop
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: New York
  • Team: Giants
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

“Monte” Ward (1860-1925). An elite pitcher and an excellent batsman, Ward also earned a law degree, formed sports’ first labor union, and helped create the Player’s League to challenge the reserve clause – all before the age of 30.

  • 3x National League Pennant winner
  • Only player: 100 wins/2,000 hits
  • Pitched 2nd perfect game in history, June 17, 1880
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1964

Auction History

John Richmond

Shortstop
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Columbus
  • Team: Buckeyes
  • League: American Association

John H. Richmond (1855-1898) played 8 seasons at SS and CF for 7 teams. He started with the Athletics in 1875 and closed his career with the Alleghenys in ’85. He played 4 years in the NL and 4 in the AA, compiling a modest .238 batting average.

  • His two most productive years were toward the end of his career with Columbus: ’83-84

Auction History

Yale Murphy

Shortstop
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: New York
  • Team: Giants
  • League: National League

William Henry Murphy (1869-1906) got his nickname attending Old Eli and was a coach in some of America’s finest universities following his brief tour of duty in MLB. Murphy was an infielder and OF playing sporadically over 3 years for the NY Giants. The diminutive Murphy (5’3” and 125 lbs) was one of the two shortest players in the game’s history.

  • Coached Stanford, Columbia and the Naval Academy baseball teams and Fordham’s football squad
  • Finished medical school and became a physician before succumbing to TB at 36

Auction History

Hughie Jennings

Shortstop
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Baltimore
  • Team: Orioles
  • League: National League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Hugh Ambrose Jennings (1869-1928) became the premier ML SS for the Orioles in the mid-90s, hitting .401 in ’96. Nearly killed by an Amos Rusie quick-pitch, this survivor returned to be hit 46x in ’96. Irrepressibly good-natured and brilliant, Jennings was an attorney and manager after his playing days, guiding the volcanic Ty Cobb to his phenomenal career.

  • Still holds record for being hit by pitch (287)
  • Is credited with inventing the platoon system
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1945

Auction History

Arthur Irwin

Shortstop
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Philadelphia
  • Team: Quakers
  • League: National League
  • Hall: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

Portraits of Arthur Irwin are rare. This is simply a case of having struggled to make a card out of a particularly difficult image, only to find a better image later. This card is now an outtake and has been replaced by another.

  • This card was created and issued five times. It has now been retired.
  • You can find the replacement card here

Auction History