Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899 > P

George Pinkney

Third Base
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Brooklyn
  • Team: Grays (AA)
  • League: American Association

George Burton Pinkney (1859-1926) was one of the American Association’s top hitters and baseball’s early Iron Men. Pinkney held the MLB record for consecutive innings played until overtaken by Cal Ripken Jr. in 1987. Pinkney’s color palette as a player ran to dark: Blue(s) (Cleveland), Gray(s) (Brooklyn), and Brown(s) St. Louis from 1884-93.

  • Twice led the AA in games played (’86 &’88)
  • Helped the Bridegrooms to the ’89 pennant in the AA and the ’90 title in the NL

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Tom Poorman

Outfield
  • Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
  • City: Philadelphia
  • Team: Athletics (AA)
  • League: American Association

Thomas Iverson Poorman (1857-1905) was a pitcher/outfielder for five major-league teams from 1880-1888 with stints in the minors mixed in. His start in the pros was with the NL’s Buffalo Bisons, going the same season to the Chicago White Stockings. He played for the two New York entries in the Eastern Championship League in ‘81, the NY Metropolitans and New York New Yorks. He didn’t play the next year and went to Toledo in ‘83. The Blue Stockings advanced from the Northwestern League to the American Association in ‘84 so Tom got back to the big leagues. Poorman had brief turns with NL and AA clubs, leaving the Athletics for Western Assoc teams 1889-91. The lure of the diamond must have been strong as he made one last try with his hometown Lockhaven, PA Maroons after a five year absence from professional baseball, in 1897. He pitched in three of his ML campaigns, going 3-9 and had a career batting average of .244 in the majors.

  • During his short time with the New Yorks, Tom played with future Hall of Famer Dan Brouthers
  • Poorman might best be remembered today as the butt of a practical joke pulled off by the Goodwin editors on one of his four documented Old Judge cards. For pose 371-2, the Goodwin jokers make light of Tom's surname by identifying him as a "Poor Man."

Auction History