- 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”
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T201 Mecca Canvas: George McBride
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Washington, D.C.
- Team: Senators
- League: American League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Walter Perry Johnson (1887-1946) played his entire 21-yr career for the Senators then managed them for 4 more. Ty Cobb’s first impression was of a “rube out of the cornfields.” But when the rube threw “The thing just hissed with danger.” Cobb wasn’t the last player to be stunned by this man’s fastball: Most shut-outs in MLB, 2nd in wins, 4th in complete games, etc.
- Only member of 3000 SO club until Bob Gibson joined in 1974
- Still holds record 12x league-leader in strikeouts
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1936
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Walter Johnson
- Series: Pilgrims
- City: Washington, D.C.
- Team: Senators
- League: American League
Norman Arthur Elberfeld (1875-1944), nicknamed the “Tabasco Kid” for his fiery temper and violent outbursts against umpires, covered 2nd base with a ferocity that daunted even Ty Cobb – who never slid head-first again after losing an encounter with Elberfeld’s spikes. Played mostly SS for 7 teams, 1898-1914 and was a solid hitter (.271 lifetime).
- Never afraid to take a spike, a punch or a pitch, he still ranks 13th on hit-batter list
- Career stats suffered from frequent suspensions and injuries
- Had a knack for mentoring young players, including rookie Casey Stengel
Auction History
Cartophilia
T201 Mecca Canvas: Kid Elberfeld
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Washington, D.C.
- Team: Senators
- League: National League
James Thomas McGuire (1863-1936). A catcher, manager & coach, McGuire’s 26 major league seasons was a record until Nolan Ryan broke it in 1993. Deacon also played for 11 different teams; another record until broken by Matt Stairs in 2010. He is one of 29 players to play in 4 different decades.
- His 1,859 assists as a catcher is still a record
- Managed the Senators (1898), the Red Sox (1907-1908), & the Naps (1909-1911)
- Coach with the Tigers (1911-17)
- Series: Pioneer Portraits II: 1875-1899
- City: Washington, D.C.
- Team: Senators
- League: National League
Charles Andrew Farrell (1866-1925) was a much-beloved and highly touted catcher for 18 years. He played three years for Boston (AL), all pennant-winning clubs. Returning to Boston after a ten year absence, the Royal Rooters gave him a diamond ring on opening day. When the club played next in D.C., the Senators fans gave him “the greatest ovation a visiting player ever received on a Washington ball field.” And there was much to love: 1563 games, 1564 hits, 912 RBI. And Duke set a record that still stands, throwing out 8 of 9 attempted steals on May 11, 1897. Farrell earned praise at every stop in his nine-team career, with multiple stints with several of the clubs.
- Was reputed to have earned his nickname by consuming 380 clams
- After helping the Sox to the first world title in 1903, per Tim Murnane, Boston writer: “…Farrell is the greatest catcher the game has produced”
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