John Tortes "Chief" Meyers

[Tao_Moko]

I just ordered the biography of Meyers written by W. Young and though it has mixed reviews I'm excited to read it. Meyers joined the USMC during WWI but I haven't found any info on what he did or where he served. If anyone has information on his service I would love to know more.

I believe it's important to share the stories of those who stood tall against bigotry, ignorance and racism with my son. Meyers is a success story and thought maybe a good time to start a thread to bring his accomplishments back to the surface.

Please share cards, images, or tidbits of his personal life. I'll start it off with a Semper Fi for one of The Few!

[Vintagecatcher]

Eric,

I purchased the book when it first came out and enjoyed reading it very much.

Enjoy,

Patrick

[kdixon]

Few Chief to Zach Wheat items. Mary was Zach Wheats daughter.

[btcarfagno]

Early Chief.



Tom C

[Louieman]

Here's a couple of mine!

[TheBig6]

[KMayUSA6060]

He has an interesting background story, particularly surrounding his college enrollment.

[Stonepony]

Originally Posted by Louieman

Here's a couple of mine!

That T T is awsome

[midmo]

I love the image on the D381. Here's a Standard Biscuit.

[T206Collector]

Great thread! Glad I can contribute...

[GasHouseGang]

I picked up this Meyers T213 last year from a fellow board member. He was inducted to the local Riverside, CA Sports HOF in 2004. They posted this on their website:

John “Chief” Meyers Athlete, Pre 1960

2004 Inductees » John “Chief” Meyers
John “Chief” Meyers Riverside Sport Hall of Fame
Athlete, Pre 1960

There is some controversy over the birth date of the late John “Chief” Meyers, early major-league baseball star. According to a 1969 article in the Riverside Press Enterprise, he was born in 1880, but in other records, Meyers listed his birth date as 1882. The son of a German-American Civil War veteran from Indiana and a Cahuilla American Indian woman from the Santa Rosa Reservation, Meyers grew up as John "Chief" Meyers in Riverside. He played semi-pro and sandlot baseball in Hemet and Riverside and attended Dartmouth College for at least one year before signing on as catcher for the New York Giants and other major-league teams from 1909 to 1917.

The highlight of Meyers’ career was playing in four World Series with the Giants and the then Brooklyn Dodgers. He holds the record for most assists (12) in a six game Fall Classic. From 1911-13, he batted .332, .358, and .312 for the national League champions. He was a career .291 hitter.

John Meyers was one of the most readily recognized ballplayers of his time. His athleticism, affable personality, and ethnic identity made for good copy, and he developed friendships and acquaintances reading like a “who’s-who” of early baseball. While with the Giants, Meyers and Jim Thorpe roomed together and formed a lasting friendship. Meyers was also battery mate to future Hall of Famers Christy Mathewson and Rube Marquard in the Giants organization.

Meyers was known in the baseball world as “Chief” but his family and friends called him Jack. In 1933, he was appointed chief of the Mission Indian Agency of Southern California by the federal government, a post he held until retirement. He died at the age of 91 in July 1971.

In 1972, “Chief” was the first Mountain Cahuilla tribal member named to the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame, located at Haskell Indian Nations University in Kansas.

[h2oya311]

1911 Helmar Stamps:

[Louieman]

Originally Posted by Stonepony

That T T is awsome

Thanks! I wish I had the type 2 as well, the image really pops on that version.

[Tao_Moko]

That D381 is now on my wantlist. Those letters to Mary Wheat and signed cards are very neat.

Chief had apparently shared that his greatest regret was not finishing his degree at Dartmouth due to issues rellated to a doctored HS diploma. Ultimately pushing him towards pro ball.

Let's keep the images and info coming. We should pick a player monthly to focus on like this.

[RCMcKenzie]

I believe his birthday was July 29th, so I thought I would bump this to the top to post more of his cards. He had a lot of vintage cards. Here are a few...

[Vintagecatcher]

Patrick

[Jobu]

Wow, there are some nice items here! I have debated doing a run of this pose as I have always thought it is terrific.

[Copa7]

Great thread. Why isn't he in the Hall of Fame ?

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Didn't make the majors until he was 28 and was pretty washed up by 33. Had a great run though.

[Vintagecatcher]

Unfortunately Chief Meyers didn't make the 10 year playing minimum requirement. He was the best offensive catcher of his day.

Bryan,

My display has the T5 Pinkerton Cabinet, Pinkerton PC, Max Stein PC, 1915 Cracker Jack, and BF2 Pennant!

Patrick

[Copa7]

Just added this one.


[IMG][/IMG]

[BeanTown]

Chief hand written Cabinet about Chase.

[gonzo]

T205 and 1914 Pritchard Stamp.

My favorite thing about these stamps is the "© P.T." in the bottom-left corner, for the Paul Thompson photo.

[h2oya311]

Michael, awesome Pritchard Stamp! Drool...

I still need a T330-2 Piedmont Stamp of Meyers...someone hook me up!

[kateighty]

Originally Posted by Aquarian Sports Cards

Didn't make the majors until he was 28 and was pretty washed up by 33. Had a great run though.

Watch it Scott.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Hey I'm way past 33. Just talking about Chief, not in general!

[CooperstownExpert]

Here's a letter dated May 19, 1914 signed by Chief Meyers on the day he caught Christy Mathewson's 342nd career win.

The Native American from the Cahuilla culture writes, “In the game today, with the Cincinnati club with Mathewson pitching, I used the Model C.M. Catcher’s Mitt, made for me by your firm yesterday."

The rest of the letter is worth reading too. This letter and many other autographs can be found on CooperstownExpert.com, a site that has pages for every Hall of Famer and more than 250 other baseball men.

Hope you can enjoy it.