- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Providence
- Team: Grays (NL)
- League: Eastern League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
James Joseph Collins (1870-1943) was the best in the NL at 3B when he jumped to the new AL in 1901. Collins led the Boston Americans to the 1st World Series championship in ’03, downing Pittsburgh in best-of-nine. Thanks to John McGraw’s stubborn refusal to play the next year’s AL winner, Boston was denied another opportunity despite its 1st place finish.
- The dust-up between leagues resulted in rules beginning in 1905 making the Series the permanent premier event in Major League Baseball
- Upon his induction into the HOF Collins became the first regular third-baseman so honored
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1945
Auction History
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Ernest (Johnny) Lush
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AL)
- League: American League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
John Franklin Baker (1886-1963) was released by his minor league mgr who declared he “could not hit.” Connie Mack needed a 3rd baseman and gave Baker a try at the end of the 1908 season. Baker played 13 years exclusively at 3rd. He wielded his 52-oz bat like no other in the dead ball era.
- Led the AL in HRs 4 straight years for the Athletics
- Helped Connie Mack’s team to 3 Series victories, closed his career with Babe Ruth’s Yankees
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1955
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Frank Baker
- Series: Pioneer Portraits I: 1850-1874
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (NABBP)
- League: National Association (NAPBBP)
Ezra Ballou Sutton (1849-1907). A 3rd baseman & shortstop, Sutton played for 5 teams over 20 seasons. Ezra was the 1st player to hit a home run in Major League baseball, and became the 1st player to hit 2 HRs in one game when he hit his second that day (in a losing effort). Sutton was also one of the 1st ball players to collect 1,000 career hits.
- Played in 1st National Association game: 5.4.71
- Played in 1st National League game: 4.22.76
- Lifetime .294 batting average
- Sutton is tied with 17 other players as the first player in major league baseball history
- Series: Pioneer Portraits I: 1850-1874
- City: Boston
- Team: Red Stockings (NAPBBP)
- League: National Association (NAPBBP)
Harry C. Schafer (1846-1935) became, literally, an everyday player at 3B for Boston (the Red Stockings 1871-75 and Red Caps 1876-78.) He played on 5 championship teams, including 4 straight with the Red Stockings. Schafer also played in the amateur NABBP for the Philadelphia Athletics, 1868-1870.
- Played in every Red Stockings’ game for the team’s first four years
- Had a busy rookie year, recording Nat’l Assoc records for 3B put-outs, assists and errors
- The handsome Schafer was nicknamed “Silk Stockings” and compiled a .271 lifetime batting average
- Series: Pioneer Portraits I: 1850-1874
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (NABBP)
- League: National Association (NAPBBP)
Levi Samuel Meyerle (1849-1921) came up at the inception of the national game, playing in the National Association of Base Ball Players beginning in 1867 in Philadelphia. He made quite a mark in 1871 with the Athletics, hitting an astounding, league-best .492. In ‘73 Levi joined the city’s White Stockings club then went to Chicago’s team of the same name, reconstituted after a two-year hiatus due to the Great Fire. At every stop, Meyerle was a superb hitter. Again in ‘74 he led the league in batting. Over his career in early professional ball, Levi averaged .356 in eight seasons. He was able to play all positions, even pitching a few times, but excelled at first with his 6’1” stature.
- Meyerle was praised in his era not only for his skills with the bat but for “his quiet and gentlemanly deportment”
- Levi’s .492 mark has never been exceeded in any major league
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