- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Chicago
- Team: White Stockings
- League: National League
Addison Courtney Gumbert (1868-1925) was a pitcher for six teams over nine years, 1888-96. He debuted with the Chicago White Stockings and played for both the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and Philadelphia Phillies in ’96. Gumbert gained a spot in Cub history as the starting pitcher in 1892 for the Chicago Colts. (The Cub franchise, with the Atlanta Braves, are the only surviving “charter members” of the NL.)
- Established a career 123-102 record, with a 4.27 ERA
- Best year was with Boston’s Players’ League entry in 1890, winning 23 for “King” Kelly’s team
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Chicago
- Team: White Stockings
- League: National League
Frank Sylvester Flint (1855-1892) broke into MLB as a 19-year-old catcher for the St Louis Red Stockings of the NAPBBP in 1875. He spent the ’78 season with the Indianapolis Blues during their only year in the NL and then caught on with the Chicago White Stockings for 11 years. Twice Flint led the league in fielding % and was near the top in four other seasons. He routinely ranked among the leading catchers in games played, put-outs, assists and range. A heavy drinker, “Silver” died just a few years following his retirement at age 36.
- Flint led the NL in games caught four times
- Partly due to his longevity, this hard-working backstop is still third all-time in errors with 456
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Chicago
- Team: White Stockings
- 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”
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Chicago
- Team: White Stockings
- League: National League
- Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame
Hugh Duffy (1866-1954) is as much a baseball institution as the Hall of Fame that enshrines him. For 68 years he devoted himself to the game he loved and excelled at as few ever have. In 1894 he set the all-time mark with a .440 average while winning the triple crown. He made HOF pitchers look like batting practice coaches: .586 against John Clarkson, .650 vs Cy Young. Amos Rusie was the exception, holding Duffy to a mere .333. So diminutive Cap Anson nearly dismissed him (“We already have a bat boy”), Hugh hustled his way to becoming the only player to hit .300 in four leagues and let the power follow his form (“hit ‘em up the middle”) winning two HR titles. Duffy went on to coach, manage, scout and mentor for a half-century after hanging up his spikes. He was still hitting fungoes eight years after his induction into Cooperstown and delighted in pupil Ted Williams’ success as he sought in vain to eclipse Duffy’s record in 1941.
- Playing career spanned 19 years, primarily in Chicago, Boston and Philadelphia
- Played center field for the Beaneaters next to his “Heavenly Twin,” Tommy McCarthy in right, leading Boston to a pair of pennants
- Elected to Hall of Fame: 1945
- Although the Old Judge series features five known poses of Hugh Duffy, I could not find one of suitable quality for this project. This image is taken from a cabinet photo produced by the Elmer Chickering Studio in Boston.
- Update, 4/26/2017: I found a suitable image for Duffy from the original Old Judge series. This card has been replaced and retired and is now considered an outtake.
- Series: Beginnings: 1880's
- City: Chicago
- Team: White Stockings
- League: National League
Thomas Peter Daly (1866-1938) began his fine 16-year career as a catcher/second-baseman with the Chicago White Stockings in 1887 but was a mainstay with Brooklyn for 11 seasons, 1890-1901. Slightly-built and swift, “Tido” stole 385 bases, enabled by his .278 lifetime average that got him on base a lot for a catcher (he hit .294 in Brooklyn.) By the mid-nineties he had transitioned to the infield. Daly played for three pennant-winners in 1890, 1899 and 1900, all in Brooklyn. He is reported to have hit the first pinch-hit home-run in history on May 14, 1892 off John Clarkson. Tido was a “lifer” who stayed around the game in the minors as a player/manager and scout. He last played for the Johnstown Johnnies in 1907 and even managed for Toronto in 1932 at age 66.
- In 1891 Daly caught Tom Lovett’s no-hitter against the Giants
- Daly's uniform color in this card was changed from black to blue in March, 2017 to reflect recent reliable research conducted by Craig Brown and friends at Threads of Our Game. Four cards had been previously released featuring a black uniform.
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