Interesting 1911 NY Highlanders card with Chase content

[calvindog]

Justin "Mike" Fitzgerald had a brief major league baseball career, playing in just a handful of games for the NY Highlanders in 1911 and the Phillies in 1918 (where he led the league in pinch hits with 8). In between he played in the PCL for a number of teams, leading the league in hitting once. His claim to fame professionally was having played with the Highlanders when Hal Chase was the player/manager in 1911. Fitzgerald was just 20 that year and had just 37 at bats.

Here's a handwritten card he sent to "Henry" wherein he talks about Chase as "the greatest 1st Baseman of all time" as well as teammate Harry Wolter who later became the long-running manager of Stanford's baseball team.



In this note he mentions a postcard of the 1911 Highlanders that he was to send along to Henry; he was referring to this PC, the only card I believe he's ever been on. Fitzgerald is at the top to the left of Chase's head. Wolter is at the left margin, in the middle.



This is the full content of the index card note to Henry:

My Dear Henry
Hal Chase
the greatest 1st Baseman
of all time was the Mgr
of N.Y. in 1911. You may
be able to get his autograph
by writing Alameda County
Hospital. He has been sick
and things have been break-
ing tough for him.
Harry Wolter, Baseball
“over”
Coach at Stanford University,
located at Pao Alto
was also a member of that
1911 team.
I believe I have
a post card of the club and
if I can find it will
mail it to you. The Yankees’
were nicknamed the High-
landers in those days.
Justin Fitzgerald

[tiger8mush]

Very cool Jeff. Any thoughts on what year Fitz might've written the note? He talks about 1911 as "in those days".

According to SABR, he was in the hospital in '41 and '47, so perhaps one of those years?

Perhaps you said the year in your post but I overlooked it?

Anyway, neat item!

[tiger8mush]

I see on the SGC flip that the auther died in '45, so is '41 a good circa?

[calvindog]

Yes, sometime between 1941 and when Fitzgerald died in 1945.

[Michael Peich]

Jeff--Fitzgerald's note, and his reference to the 1911 Highlanders PC, is a wonderful historic document. This kind of primary baseball source contributes to our understanding of the early game. It was a delight to read, and thank you for sharing it.

Cheers,
Mike

[bocca001]

Cool piece. Thanks for sharing. Chase, Wolter, and Fitzgerald all played for Santa Clara College (now Santa Clara university). I seem to recall that Chase played a role in getting both Wolter and Fitzgerald to the major league level.

I'm pretty sure that Fitzgerald also returned to Santa Clara to coach.

Chase and Wolter also played together for the San Jose Prune Pickers.

[bocca001]

Figured that I'd add a few pictures to put faces with the names.

[Leon]

Great postcard and history, thanks for sharing it.

Originally Posted by calvindog

Justin "Mike" Fitzgerald had a brief major league baseball career, playing in just a handful of games for the NY Highlanders in 1911 and the Phillies in 1918 (where he led the league in pinch hits with 8). In between he played in the PCL for a number of teams, leading the league in hitting once. His claim to fame professionally was having played with the Highlanders when Hal Chase was the player/manager in 1911. Fitzgerald was just 20 that year and had just 37 at bats.

Here's a handwritten card he sent to "Henry" wherein he talks about Chase as "the greatest 1st Baseman of all time" as well as teammate Harry Wolter who later became the long-running manager of Stanford's baseball team.



In this note he mentions a postcard of the 1911 Highlanders that he was to send along to Henry; he was referring to this PC, the only card I believe he's ever been on. Fitzgerald is at the top to the left of Chase's head. Wolter is at the left margin, in the middle.



This is the full content of the index card note to Henry:

My Dear Henry
Hal Chase
the greatest 1st Baseman
of all time was the Mgr
of N.Y. in 1911. You may
be able to get his autograph
by writing Alameda County
Hospital. He has been sick
and things have been break-
ing tough for him.
Harry Wolter, Baseball
“over”
Coach at Stanford University,
located at Pao Alto
was also a member of that
1911 team.
I believe I have
a post card of the club and
if I can find it will
mail it to you. The Yankees’
were nicknamed the High-
landers in those days.
Justin Fitzgerald

[realbigfatdog]

Great stuff! Love that postcard, too

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

[tedzan]

Hi Jeff

This is really interesting stuff. Thanks for posting it.

Speaking of Harry Wolter, he was quite an interesting character. He probably holds the record
for the most number of teams played on.....total of the Major Leagues and the Minor Leagues.



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TED Z

T206 Reference
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