- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Athletics (AL)
- League: American League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Cornelius McGillicuddy, Sr. (1862-1956). An average catcher with strong leadership skills for 11 professional seasons (1886-1896), Mack then owned (1901-1954) and managed (1901-1950) the Philadelphia Athletics for half a century, establishing many managerial records and a unique place in the pantheon of baseball icons in the 20th century.
- 5x World Series Champion
- Most Managerial Wins: 3,731
- Most Managerial Losses: 3,948
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1937
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Pat Dougherty
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Philadelphia
- Team: Phillies
- League: National League
Sherwood Robert Magee (1884-1929) was a brawling rogue and one of the best outfielders in Philadelphia history. Fans with long memories smiled when this man who had once been suspended for cold-cocking an ump turned to officiating games upon his retirement as a player. Magee began a decade-long streak as the Phillies’ left fielder as a 19-year-old rookie. He had great years at the plate but none better than in 1910, the year before he knocked out Bill Finneran and suffered the worst sanction dealt by the NL since 1877. In ’10 Sherry bested even Honus Wagner, winning the NL batting title and leading in runs and RBI.
- Magee played minor league ball until age 40, then turned to umpiring. The NL put him under close watch due to his prior history but he established himself as a fine arbiter
- Struck down by pneumonia at 44, Magee was lauded in the press as “one of baseball’s most colorful figures,” and “one of the greatest natural batsmen in the game”
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Otto Williams
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Richard William Marquard (1886-1980) was a dominant left-hander with the Giants, Robins, Reds and Braves from 1908-25. His Hall of Fame plaque highlights his outstanding performance for NY’s consecutive titles 1911-13 with 23+ wins each year and a record 19 in a row. This streak vindicated the outlandish $11K price the Giants paid to get him from the American Assoc.
- The nickname wasn’t a “bumpkin” reference but a comparison to Waddell
- Helped Brooklyn to pennants in 1916 & 1920
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1971
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Arthur McCabe
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Christopher Mathewson (1880-1925) was the consummate right hander of the early 20th Century. His “fadeaway” pitch baffled NL hitters from 1900-16. Mathewson won 22+ 12 straight years, 30+ 4x, and holds the modern NL record with his 37 wins in 1908. He hurled 3 shut-outs in 6 days to gain his sole world championship in 1905.
- One of the “first five” into Cooperstown
- Accomplished all this while honoring his Christian faith by not pitching on Sundays
- This Pilgrims card duplicates and preserves the uncorrected spelling error on Mathewson's original T201 Mecca card
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1936
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Christy Matthewson (sic)
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Washington, D.C.
- Team: Senators
- League: American League
George Florian McBride (1880-1973) became a regular SS for the Senators in 1908. A modest hitter but a wonder with the glove, McBride led the AL in fielding % 4 straight years. Nicknamed “Pinch” for his ability to hit in the clutch. Among long-time players, McBride ranks last in BA at .218 for those with more than 5000 ABs.
- Succeeded Clark Griffith as mgr in ’21, but an injury forced him to retire the next year
- Returned for 2 yrs with Cobb’s Tigers in 1925-6, serving as his “first lieutenant”
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: George McBride
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Newark
- Team: Indians (EL)
- League: Eastern League
George Lewis McCarty (1888-1930) was a catcher for the Brooklyn Superbas/Robins, Giants and Cardinals from 1913-1921. His best year was 1916 when he tied for the NL lead with a .339 BA, but fell short of the number of ABs to qualify. With Brooklyn, McCarty played under former catcher Wilbert Robinson with teammate Casey Stengel.
- In 1916 McCarty was traded away to NY from the pennant-bound Robins for Fred Merkle
- The Giants won the pennant in ’17 and McCarty hit .400 in the Series
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Lew McCarty
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Newark
- Team: Indians (EL)
- League: Eastern League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Joseph Jerome McGinnity (1871-1929) still holds the NL record for complete games (48) and innings pitched (434) for John McGraw’s Giants. This literal and figurative “iron man” (he worked off seasons in a foundry) won 246 games with an ERA of 2.66. Pitching both ends of doubleheaders was routine for this Irish immigrant. In 1904 he won 10 of the Giants’ first 21 games.
- Known as an even better fielder, McGinnity transformed his position with his quality of defense
- Part of one World Series win, two NL pennants, and was a five-time NL wins champion
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Joe McGinnity
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
John Joseph McGraw (1873-1934) was an innovative player (the hit-and-run, the “Baltimore chop”) but went on to true greatness as a manager for Baltimore and, most noteworthy, the NY Giants. Only Connie Mack’s teams won more games and no NL manager approached him. Not shabby as a hitter (ranks 3rd all time behind Ted Williams and Babe Ruth in OBP), has been called “the best player to become a great manager.”
- Played for and/or managed ten NL pennant winners
- Upon his death, McGraw’s wife discovered a list of all the African-American players he wanted to sign but was prevented
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1937
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Al Mattern
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Pittsburgh
- Team: Pirates
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
William Boyd McKechnie (1886-1965) was a noted baseball strategist and the only manager to lead three teams to NL pennants. Won World Series titles with two clubs: the ’25 Pirates and ’40 Reds. A player, manager and then coach for nearly half a century, “the Deacon” was known for his temperance and piety.
- Served as coach for young Indians manager, Lou Boudreau, winning the ’48 Series
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1962
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Mike Simon
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Almendares
- Team: Blues (CUNL)
- League: Cuban National League
- Hall: Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame, National Baseball Hall of Fame
Jose de la Caridad Mendez (1887-1928) visited America from his native Cuba in 1908 and demolished the ML Cincinnati Reds and minor league all-stars from Florida. He was unbeaten, untied, and unscored upon. He allowed but a single to Miller Huggins in the 9th inning of his first game on US soil, and hurled a no-hitter in Key West. Ira Thomas, catcher for the 2-time world champion Athletics, compared Mendez favorably to Walter Johnson and said “he is a remarkable pitcher, and if he were a white man would command a good position on any Major League club in the circuits.”
- Became a star in the Negro Leagues, leading the KC Monarchs to pennants in ’23, ’24, and ‘25
- The Cuban “Black Diamond’s” career spanned 1908-26
- Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in its inaugural class: 1939
- Elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame: 2006
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: John Kling
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Carl Frederick Rudolf Merkle (1888-1956) was called by a teammate “the smartest man on the club.” One misstep, one quick decision not to continue to 2nd base, left this “gentleman and scholar” to endure the scorn of contemporary fans and much of baseball lore for his infamous “boner,” committed in his rookie year. His boss, John McGraw, was much more forgiving and Merkle went on to fine career, including 5 Series in 8 years.
- Merkle was the youngest player in the game when he failed to run out what would have been his game-winning (and pennant-winning) hit
- Umpire Hank O’Day was said to have been looking for the chance to enforce a widely-ignored rule, and chose a moment that got all of baseball’s attention
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Fred Merkle
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
John Tortes Meyers (1880-1971, a Native American in a benighted era, “Chief” faced many hurdles in becoming perhaps the best hitting catcher of his day. Literate, poised and good-humored, Meyers gained fame as battery-mate to Christy Mathewson, hitting over .300 for 3 consecutive Giants pennants, 1911-13.
- Toured the vaudeville circuit occasionally in an act with Mathewson they called “Curves”
- Hit .358 in 1912 and was third in the MVP balloting
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Chief Meyers
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