- Series: Pilgrims
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Cardinals
- League: National League
Harry F. Sallee (1885-1950) set pitching marks for St. Louis that still rank him among the best in franchise history. He debuted with the Cards in ’08 and stayed into the ’16 season. His 2.67 ERA places him 3rd all-time for a club that has seen its share of stars. HOF catcher Roger Bresnahan said Sallee had “the best control of any southpaw that ever curved a ball over the plate.” Unfortunately, Slim had much less control in his personal life, witnessed by a stream of rule violations, fines, suspensions & other turmoil. It could not have helped that this star labored for an exceptionally weak team most years, as the Cards were routinely worst or near-worst in fielding & hitting (in a doubleheader with the Reds in ’08, St. Louis committed 17 errors).
- In ’13, Sallee won 19 of the club’s 51 victories while getting little support.
- Sallee’s finest hour, helping Cincinnati to the world championship in ’19, would be tarnished by the Black Sox scandal
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Albert Bridwell
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Oklahoma City
- Team: Monarchs
- League: Independent
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Louis Santop (Loftin) (1890-1942) was a prodigious HR slugger & indomitable catcher in the Negro Leagues. He averaged .406 lifetime, caught two of the hardest throwing pitchers of all-time (Smokey Joe Williams & Dick Redding) and endured behind the plate for an astonishing 15 seasons despite the privations and rigor of black baseball in America in his day. A jovial giant, Top was a fan favorite & sure-fire draw with his ability to throw a ball over outfield fences before games & hit it even further during games.
- It is told the Newark park had an ad promising a suit to players who hit the 440’ centerfield fence. The sign was removed after Santop hit it three times in one game
- Played for great Negro League teams including the NY Lincoln Giants and the Hilldale Club
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 2006
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Bill Abstein
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Giants
- League: National League
Frederick Carlisle Snodgrass (1887-1974) broke into MLB with the Giants in ’08 and became a mainstay in the outfield by virtue of his speed & hitting. As proficient as he was at bat & on base, Snodgrass spent his career mired in controversy, especially on the big stage of the World Series: intentionally spiking Frank Baker, dropping a fly ball & later bringing down the house in Fenway after defiantly challenging the home folks. That incident prompted Boston’s mayor (“Vote often and early for James Michael Curley”) to stride on field and demand Snodgrass’ ouster. Fittingly, Fred was traded to the Bosox the next season.
- Haunted throughout his life by the 1912 Series gaff, Snodgrass was spared the indignity of reading the headline on his NY Times obituary: “Fred Snodgrass, 86, Dead; Ball Player Muffed 1912 Fly.”
- Harry Hooper, Boston’s fleet slugger, was robbed by Snodgrass on the next play. Hooper always defended Snodgrass, citing numerous other miscues that led to the Giants’ loss that day
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Arthur Hoffman
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Boston
- Team: Red Sox
- League: American League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Tristram E. Speaker (1888-1958) enjoyed a long and storied career as perhaps the greatest all-around center fielder in the game. Led the Red Sox to two titles and, upon moving to Cleveland over a salary dispute, led the Indians to a championship in 1920. He still holds MLB records for doubles and outfield assists.
- Career batting average: .345
- Also still holds MLB record for unassisted double plays by an outfielder
- Speaker’s glove came to be known as “the place where triples go to die”
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1937
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Tris Speaker
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Cleveland
- Team: Naps
- League: American League
George Thomas Stovall (1877-1951) played 1B with the Cleveland Naps and St Louis Browns from 1904-1913 before going over to the new Federal League for two final years with the KC Packers. He managed at least part of a season with each team. In over 5K ABs his lifetime average was .265.
- Homered off his brother Jesse in his rookie season (an MLB first)
- “The Jesse James of the Federal League” recruited some top ML players to the ill-fated venture
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T201 Mecca Canvas: George Stovall
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Washington, D.C.
- Team: Senators
- League: American League
Charles Evard Street (1882-1951) was a catcher, manager and broadcaster over a long and storied career. He made news for two stunts: catching a ball dropped from the Wash. Monument (on his 13th try) and putting himself in for one AB as mgr of the Cards in ’31, giving him the “record” of longest gap between ML appearances.
- Led St Louis to 2 pennants and one Series win in 1931
- Mentored Walter Johnson and, in the booth, a young Harry Caray
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Gabby Street
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: New York
- Team: Highlanders
- League: American League
Edward Francis Sweeney (1888-1947) was a catcher for the Highlanders/Yankees (1908-15) with a brief return with the Pirates in 1919 following a wartime enlistment with the Navy and stints in the minors. Fleet of foot for his position, Sweeney still holds the club record with 19 steals in 1914.
- Usually a reserve, his best year was 1913: .268 BA and 40 RBI in 117 games
- Served the city of Chicago as an electrical switchman until his death at 58
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T201 Mecca Canvas: Ed Sweeney
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