[jingram058]

Originally Posted by tiger8mush

Charles Ferguson was a 2-way player who accumulated 31.7 WAR in 4 seasons before dying from Typhoid Fever 12 days after turning 25 yrs old.

According to SABR, Wilbert Robinson ranked him top 5 of all time ...
"Perhaps the greatest testament to Ferguson’s abilities as a ballplayer came from one of his contemporaries, Wilbert Robinson. Robinson was a catcher for the crosstown rival Philadelphia Athletics before going on to a Hall of Fame career as a player and manager with the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Robins. When asked in 1931 to name the five greatest ballplayers of all time, Robinson rated Ferguson as the fifth greatest, saying: “Back in the old, old days the Phillies had a man who could pitch like a streak and play the infield, too. His name was Charley Ferguson. You can’t leave him off. … But if I have to name the best five you can put down Cobb, Keeler, Ruth, Wagner, and Ferguson for me."

Following your interesting post, I looked up Charles Ferguson. Absolutely amazing story, brought to a tragic and climactic end by Typhoid Fever at age 25. I had never heard of him before. If Uncle Robbie says he is in the all-time top 5, who am I to dispute that? I have a handful of n172 cards. I now wish I had a Charles Ferguson.