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Babe Adams

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Pittsburgh
  • Team: Pirates
  • League: National League

Charles Benjamin Adams (1882-1968) was one of the most remarkable control pitchers in baseball history. The superlatives just keep coming: only rookie to win 3 WS games (and, until Lackey in ’02, only rookie to win game 7); lowest rookie ERA ever at 1.11; fewest walks in a season of over 250 innings (18 in 1920 AFTER recovering from sore arm.) Still ranks at or near top of Pirate pitching records, the team for which he played virtually his whole career. Only pitcher with a better walk ratio in 20th Century was his Pittsburgh teammate Deacon Phillippe. Held Ty Cobb to 1 for 11 in the ’09 Series during his 3 complete games. Held Marquard’s Giants without a walk for 21 innings on 7/17/14, never equaled. Lifetime 2995 innings & ERA of 2.76, pitching shut-outs in his 40s. Were it not for intermittent arm troubles throughout his career, this Babe might have a place in Cooperstown.

  • The Depression forced Adams to work into old age. He entered journalism and covered WWII and Korea as a war correspondent

Auction History

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T201 Mecca Canvas: Bobby Byrne

Grover Alexander

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Syracuse
  • Team: Stars (NYSL)
  • League: New York State League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Grover Cleveland Alexander (1887-1950) earned his plaque in the Hall of Fame on the strength of his strong right arm and an indomitable spirit. The battered WWI vet fought German mustard gas, epilepsy-inducing artillery, PTSD-induced alcoholism, and opposing hitters, all with honor and distinction. It is impossible to know the record he would have achieved but for the interruption of the war.

  • Led the NL in ERA: 1915, ‘16, ‘17, ‘19, and ‘20
  • Led GIs into battle in 1918
  • Named after President Grover Cleveland, was sometimes referred to as Alexander the Great orOld Pete, but friends and family called him Dode.
  • Said of his induction into the HOF: “the greatest treat and one of the biggest thrills” of his life
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1938

Auction History

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T201 Mecca Canvas: Jimmy Barrett