Help me solve a baseball card mystery

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Gary B.</b><p>This may be beyond even the members of this board, which as far as I'm concerned, if that's the case, then the mystery probably can't be solved at all.<br /><br />I met a woman yesterday who said her grandfather played in the minor leagues, but also played in the major leagues for about 18 months back in the 20's or 30's. She said she thinks he played first base, and he played for the San Diego Padres. My research shows the Padres didn't exist before 1969, so she must have her facts a little off.<br /><br />She's trying to find a baseball card with him on it, and she said she heard once that there's a team card at least that he's on. His name was Joe Randall - I did searches and can't find a record of this person's name as a former major leaguer.<br /><br />I'm going to try and reach this woman to see if I can find out more concrete information as I told her if a card existed, I'd try and track it down for her, but so far things aren't looking promising. <br /><br />Anyone here know who she could be possibly referring to? Maybe he was on some PCL team where a Zee-nut card exists?

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Gary B.</b><p>Ok, it gets a little harder now, as I did manage to get hold of this woman. She says she got the information from her mother (deceased) that he was on the Padres, but she must have been wrong. <br /><br />She is sure however that he played semi-pro ball in Kansas (maybe Fredonia, Kansas) in the 20's and/or early 30's, and she still believes that someone she had do some research long ago found that there is a team card that exists with him on it.<br /><br />Anyone know any history of semi-pro teams around this time in this place and if cards were ever made?<br /><br /><br />More research has led me to (as I'm sure some of you already know) that there was a San Diego Padres in the PCL around this time. Maybe this is where the confusion comes from, as maybe he was on one of these teams. Does there exist somewhere a checklist of what cards exist for each year of Zeenut cards?

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>todd</b><p>Checked the Zeenuts checklists from 1920 on, no such player listed.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Gary B.</b><p>if the PCL San Diego Padres had Zeenut cards...<br /><br />Oh well, if anyone can offer any help to the mystery, would be appreciated - I know this is a real tough one.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>jamie</b><p>dont know if this would help, but theres a book out that touches on the subject<br /><br /><a href="http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/95winter/paradise.htm" target=_new>http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/95winter/paradise.htm</a>

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Darren J. Duet</b><p>Gary,<br />If you could, list this player's full name, birth date, and region where he had reportedly played. I may be able to help.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Gary B.</b><p>I'll see what more information I can get and post again within a day or so.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Judge Dred</b><p>PCL San Diego Padres (1936 - 1968)

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>He really knows--every last PCL player-no kidding. Meanwhile, I think I'll look through the Padres lists of Zeenuts for the duration of their PCL existance. Anything to keep from working!<br /><br />An "old woman"'s father would more likely have played in the '30s than the '20s anyway.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>in 1906. Padres formed in '36. "He may have played in San Diego, but not for the Padres." ("Newt" also played half a year each for the Cubs and the Boston Nationals, 1907).<br /><br />No Joe Randalls in the majors--till after 1989, when my Baseball Encyclopedia ends!

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>mark macrae</b><p>Julie....If you're going to quote me, please quote me correctly...Newt Randall played for Oakland in 1916, NOT 1906. No other players named "Randall" played in a regulation game in the PCL from 1903-1957.......... Mark

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>I figured I'd written the number wrong. 10 years is a long time between pro jobs. Should have re-checked your e-mail.<br /><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/jphotos/ferg.JPG">

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Elliot</b><p>Newton J. Randall......J. for Joe???

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p><img src="/images/happy.gif" height=14 width=14><br />Maybe she's VERY old (like, 90), He played in the majors AND the minors (NORTHERN California minors...). If MY name was "Newton Joseph," I'd call myself Joe, too.<br /><br />He would have been 36 by 1916--born in 1880.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>effe</b><p>If it is Newt, he has a card in the t206 set with Milwaukee.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Julie</b><p>Hey, Gary, find the old lady a Newt Randall, T206.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Ben</b><p><img src="http://www.network54.com/Realm/tmp/1096929747.JPG">

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>effe</b><p><img src="http://home.wi.rr.com/jevintage/randall1.jpg"><br /><img src="http://home.wi.rr.com/jevintage/randall2.jpg">

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Gary B.</b><p>I don't think it's Newt - he was too early, and she's pretty confident it was the late 20's or 30's.<br /><br />I finally got a hold of this woman again today and she's going to try and do some research and get back to me with any more info she can give me - full name, date of birth, etc. I'll let you know. Thanks!

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Bryan</b><p>My ex boss which is actually in the same building as my new boss - two companies, same building - anyway, this is not the topic. He is related to Kid Elberfeld. They have put togther a small website devoted to Kid and the family blood line. They have started to collect some of his cards and of course had no idea that he had an error card in the T206 set. I just thought it was interesting.

[Archive]

Posted By: <b>Elliot</b><p>Website url???<br /><br />Also, the Elberfeld card is not an error...it's that he was traded, so the team name was changed.