- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Quakers
- League: National League
Charles H. Kelly (18??-????). Perhaps the most obscure player in this set, Charlie was a third baseman who made two brief major league appearances: he played in 2 games for the Philadelphia Quakers in 1883 and 1 game for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1886.
For his career, Kelly made one hit in 10 at bats. It was a triple and he did score a run. Perhaps his undoing was his defense, as he made 7 errors in 16 chances.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Gilbert Hatfield (1855-1921). A pitcher and infielder for 6 teams over 8 seasons, Hatfield did not break into the majors until the age of 30 – then played sporadically across the next decade – actually getting into 5 games with Louisville at the age of 40.
Hatfield was a member of the 1888 World Series Champion New York Giants. As a hitter, Hatfield went 2-8 in the series with 1 BB, 1 RBI & 1 Run. As a pitcher, Hatfield made 1 relief appearance, giving up 12 hits & 12 runs (7 earned) in 5 innings.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Omaha
- Team: Omahogs
- League: Western Association
John S. Doran played for 6 minor league teams over 5 years. He was with the Quincy, IL, Quincies club of the Northwestern Association in 1883 and then shows up on the Eau Claire Lumbermen and Oshkosh teams in the same league in ’86 and ’87. At Oshkosh, Doran played for future Hall of Fame manager Frank Selee who went on to the majors in 1890. The following year Jack played for the Davenport Onion Weeders and the Omaha Omahogs of the Western Association. His final year was with Worcester of the Atlantic Association. Based on the limited documentation available, Doran’s finest year was with Selee’s squad where he hit .334 in 504 ABs and stole 18 bases.
- Doran got into 25 games for the ’88 Omahogs
- Based on the year he had in Oshkosh, it is curious that Selee didn’t take Jack to the Beaneaters
- Although the Old Judge series features two known poses of John Doran, I could not find one of suitable quality for this project. This image is taken from an Old Judge proof taken at the same time as Doran's other OJ images and may represent an as-of-yet undiscovered pose.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Indianapolis
- Team: Hoosiers (NL)
- League: National League
Jeremiah Dennis Denny (1859-1927) was a rare ambidextrous third baseman who played professionally for over 20 years, 13 in the majors. He was the last position player to play his entire career without a glove, which would have hindered his ability to use his left hand when the play required. Denny broke in with the Providence Grays and led them to the first inter-league post-season tournament championship as the NL beat the AA in 1884. Jerry teamed with Arthur Irwin at short to create a formidable combination on the left side. He won the first-ever “series” game with a three-run homer off Tim Keefe of the Metropolitans. Providence closed down and Jerry moved to the Maroons in St. Louis for a year and then on to Indianapolis when the team relocated. A reliable batter with good power, Denny compiled a .260 career average and 74 HRs.
- Holds the MLB record for chances by a third baseman in a game: 16 on 8/17/82
- Denny was a pseudonym, adopted while in college in Phoenix to mask his semi-pro forays that were barred to amateurs. His birth name was Eldridge
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Kansas City
- Team: Cowboys
- League: American Association
James J. Davis (1861-1921) played 3rd base during 7 seasons for 6 major league teams (twice with Kansas City in different incarnations). He broke in with KC’s Cowboys of the Union Association in 1884 and later played for their American Association contingent in ’88-89. He also played for the Gladiators, Brooklyn’s Players’ League entry in 1890, finishing his time in the big leagues for the Washington Statesmen during their final year in the AA, 1891. “Jumbo” was a sturdy 5’11” and 195 lbs, hardly a giant but he must have impressed with his strength, leading the league in triples in ‘87 and generally hitting for a respectable average. His career BA was .272 with 468 hits in 453 games. The native New Yorker had begun minor league ball in 1883 with the Quincy, IL, Quincies in the Northwestern League (when Indiana, Illinois and Michigan were considered the “northwest”).
- In 1888, Davis saved a girl from drowning at the Coney Island shore while the Cowboys were on a road trip to NY
- Following his final game in D.C. “Big Jim” umpired some AA contests in 1891
- Also played for the Orioles and Browns, finding his post-retirement home in St. Louis
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