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Cy Falkenberg

Pitcher
  • Series: Pilgrims
  • City: Cleveland
  • Team: Naps
  • League: American League

Frederick Peter Falkenberg (1879-1961) pitched for 7 ML clubs over a 15-year career from 1903-17, laboring in obscurity and mediocrity until he emerged in 1913 (at age 32) with a secret weapon that transformed him into a world-beater. For one meteoric season he went 23-10 with a 2.22 ERA using the “emery ball,” a legal but dubious pitch that practitioners kept on the down-low.

  • In 1914, lured to the new Federal League, he continued his success for one more year
  • The Federal League and Falkenberg both flamed out the following year
  • Retired to San Francisco and became an entrepreneur for his favorite game: bowling

Auction History

Cartophilia

T201 Mecca Canvas: Cy Falkenberg