The Old Fox
"Most undervalued? Edgar Charles "Sam" Rice, of course!!"
I agree Rice is undervalued after a great career, the start of which was delayed by personal tragedy and the end of which eschewed three thousand hits, which wasn't then viewed as important.
But I'd like to get an oar in the water regarding his manager/owner Clark Griffith:
Griff's SABR biography sums it up: Few individuals in the history of baseball can boast of a career to rival that of Clark Griffith’s. In terms of duration, as a player, manager, and executive, it was one of the longest ever, spanning nearly 70 years. Griffith is the only man in major league history to serve as player, manager, and owner for at least 20 years each. From his earliest days as a pitcher for money in Hoopeston, Illinois, to his last breath, the Old Fox, as he became fondly known, dedicated his life to baseball. A fiery competitor, he was outspoken, innovative, crafty and resourceful. He played with and against some of the pioneers of the game, was a star during its rowdiest era, managed for two decades, and was the face of baseball in the nation’s capital for over 40 years. Along the way he won 237 games as a major league pitcher, helped to establish the American League, brought Washington its only World Series title, and could name eight U.S. presidents among his many friends.
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