- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Cardinals
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Miller James Huggins (1879-1929) played 2B for the Reds and Cards (1904-16), then managed the Cards and Yankees during the latter’s dominant decade, winning 6 AL pennants and 3 World Series. Despite a low-key style, Huggins shook up the NY roster, drawing heavily from the Red Sox and even reined in the mighty Babe, laying the groundwork for Murderers’ Row.
- Presided over consecutive World Series sweeps in 1927 & 28
- Following Huggins’ untimely death at age 50, all AL games were canceled in tribute
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1964
- Series: Diamond Heads '15
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Cardinals
- League: National League
John Barney Miller (1886-1923) broke into major league ball in 1909 at the top of the game. As second-baseman for the Pirates, Dots would spend his rookie season with a champion as Pittsburgh won the NL pennant and beat the Tigers in the World Series. Miller went on to a fine 12-year career with three National League clubs: five with Pittsburgh, five with the Cardinals and the last two with the Phillies. When Fred Clarke brought Miller to the ‘09 spring camp he played him at short as the team’s regular, a guy named Honus Wagner, was late arriving. There was no way Miller would stay at that position once Wagner finally showed up but his play impressed Clarke enough to earn a spot at 2nd. A reporter asked Wagner who the new kid was and Hans said “That’s Miller.” The scribe noted it phonetically and a memorable nickname was born. Dots became a versatile addition to each team, playing every position for St Louis and prompting Ring Lardner to dub him the best utility man of the era.
- Miller succumbed to TB just as his promising managerial career was beginning. He led his San Francisco Seals to the PCL pennant in 1922
- NL president John Heydler paid tribute to “a brainy player, well liked everywhere…”
- 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
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Albert Bridwell
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Cardinals
- League: National League
Edward J. Konetchy (1885-1947) reminisced about growing up in LaCrosse “when we used to get pictures of athletes out of cigarette boxes.” The big kid from Wisconsin not only carved out a worthy career as a NL 1st baseman, he lived to see himself on a few of those picture cards. “Koney” was the Cardinals’ best hitter & such a consistent speedster & fielder that John McGraw observed “Konetchy is worth the whole team,” & often tried to trade for him. A train wreck cast a pall over the Cards’ 1st good year with their young infielder, 1911. Many never recovered from the fatalities they witnessed, yet Koney & manager Roger Bresnahan were heroes, rescuing as many as they could. Many teams coveted the star & Pittsburgh finally pried Koney away from St. Louis in ’14.
- Konetchy was a marvel of consistency afield & at bat. He compiled more hits (2150) than games played (2085), a .285 BA, 992 RBI & 255 SBs
- Hit safely in 10 consecutive ABs in ’19 & stole home twice against Boston, 9/30/07
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: James Stephans
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: St. Louis
- Team: Cardinals
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Miller James Huggins (1879-1929) played 2B for the Reds and Cards (1904-16), then managed the Cards and Yankees during the latter’s dominant decade, winning 6 AL pennants and 3 World Series. Despite a low-key style, Huggins shook up the NY roster, drawing heavily from the Red Sox and even reined in the mighty Babe, laying the groundwork for Murderers’ Row.
- Presided over consecutive World Series sweeps in 1927 & 28
- Following Huggins’ untimely death at age 50, all AL games were canceled in tribute
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1964
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Miller Huggins
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