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Roger Peckinpaugh

Shortstop
  • Series: Diamond Heads '15
  • City: New York
  • Team: Yankees
  • League: American League

Roger Thorpe Peckinpaugh (1891-1977) caught the eye of Nap Lajoie who signed the 19-year old to a pro contract in 1911 with Cleveland. The Naps quickly regretted sending the budding star to the Yankees in 1913, where Roger immediately impressed with his defensive skills at short (best arm of his era) and leadership qualities. Frank Chance made him captain the following year and, upon Chance’s resignation late in the season, Peckinpaugh became the youngest manager in MLB history. NY hired another to manage in ‘15, but Roger would remain captain his entire tenure with the Yankees, which culminated in a World Series appearance in 1921. That proved a fateful Fall Classic for the veteran shortstop. He set a record with nine assists in one game, but his failure to corral a first-inning grounder in the deciding game allowed the only run to score. Peckinpaugh would be traded to Boston that offseason. Far from through, Roger would win a Series with the Senators in ‘24 and then play the goat once more as Washington dropped the 1925 Series. He was honored that year as the first SS named MVP. The League Awards had replaced the Chalmers Award in 1922.

  • Became Cleveland’s manager in 1927, returned in ‘41 and later stepped up to GM

Auction History

Jacob Ruppert

Owner
  • Series: Diamond Heads '15
  • City: New York
  • Team: Yankees
  • League: American League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Jacob Ruppert Jr. (1867-1939) became the 304th inductee into Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2013, remedying an oversight many assumed had already been handled. This beer & real estate baron, National Guard Colonel & US Congressman took a second-rate NY franchise, hired Miller Huggins to manage it, saw that the mighty southpaw up in Boston had more potential at the plate than on the mound, built Yankee Stadium and tailored it to Ruth’s swing, hired the likes of Gehrig, DiMaggio and a clutch of other future Hall of Famers, and won the franchise’s first 10 pennants & 7 World Series titles. In all, Ruppert created the most storied sports organization in history and forever changed the game as the Dead Ball gave way to the Lively Ball. He died five months before there was a Hall in Cooperstown and now, just 74 years later, he’s in it.

  • Was instrumental in creating the office of Commissioner and hiring Landis as czar in 1920
  • Initially fought to rename the Yankees as theKnickerbockers after his family’s flagship brew
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 2013

Auction History

Frank Chance

Manager
  • Series: Diamond Heads '15
  • City: New York
  • Team: Yankees
  • League: American League
  • Hall: National Baseball Hall of Fame

Frank Leroy Chance (1876-1924) was a tenacious and fiercely competitive MLB player-manager for the Cubs and Yankees and manager of the Red Sox. John L. Sullivan called him the “greatest amateur brawler of all time.” Chance brought that pugilistic spirit to the diamond, giving unruly fans and players as good as he got.

  • Joined the fraternity of the immortals in Cooperstown with the teammates with whom he is forever linked: Johnny Evers and Joe Tinker
  • Cubs’ owner gave Chance a 10% stake in the club as reward for stealing home from 2nd in a tied game
  • Elected to Hall of Fame: 1946

Auction History