Quote:
Originally Posted by LarsHoneyToast
I had this grand idea of researching baseball players from the pre war or vintage era, (call it 70’s or earlier) of players that have my sons names (James & Will) who were also men of character and integrity in the game of baseball. The earlier the card, the better.
|
The definition of integrity, in the early years, was embodied in William Joseph Klem.
SABR biography:
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Bill-Klem/
"Elected to the Hall of Fame in 1953, Klem is credited with helping upgrade dignity and respect for umpiring during a major-league career that spanned 37 years (1905-1941)."
I'm sure vintage collectors could recommend a card of Klem, and my guess would be that it would be a great bargain, considering he's a HOFer and very under-rated in the overall history of the game.