Cy Young trivia

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

"Old" Cy Young only played for 3 major league cities in his long career (Cleveland, St. Louis and Boston)...

but he probably had a hard time remembering from year to year what the NAME of his team was!!

Over his Major League career, Cy Young played (in chronological order)for the:

Spiders
Perfectos
Cardinals
Americans
Somersets
Pilgrims
Red Sox
Naps
Rustlers


Most of his images show his with "B A" on his shirt (from his 1901 "Boston Americans" days); or

a Red Sock on his shirt (from his 1907-1908 "Red Sox" days); or

"Cleveland" on his shirt (from his 1909-1911 "Naps" days)...

but I would LOVE to see an image of Cy Young with a Spider or a Pilgrim or a Perfecto or a Ruslter on his jersey.

Anybody have some to share???

Obviously the "Just So" Cy Young image is from his "Spiders" days... but what was on his shirt? Anything?


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If you asked 1,000 people on the street:

"In what league did the Spiders, Perfectos, Somersets, Americans, Pilgrims, Naps and Rustlers all play?"

I doubt very many would say "Major League Baseball"!!!

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

I looked back and saw that the 1890's image on the "Just So" Cy Young card does NOT show anything on his shirt. He just has a white shirt with a winged collar buttoned to the top.

Are there any images of this team with big Spiders on their uniforms?

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Posted By: john/z28jd

The owner of Cleveland named the team the Spiders because he said the players had a skinny,spidery build.That seems like the worst way to chose a team name,picking out a bad character flaw among the players.I could see a manager saying Alot of my players came from homes where the parents are divorced so im going to name them the Broken Homers.Above is an 1892 team picture

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Posted By: barrysloate

There is a composite photo known of the Spiders featuring Cy Young in the late 90's (I think it was 1898) but I don't remember what was on the uniforms. It may be pictured in one of the back issues of The Old Judge. But you've certainly spun a web of intrigue.
And by the way, who were the Perfectos? I don't recognize that team nickname.

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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

The Cardinals were known as the Perfectos in 1899.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/1899.shtml

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Posted By: barrysloate

I did not know that. Here's a good one- what was the nickname of the NL Milwaukee team in 1877? Not a name you hear every day.

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

The Milwaukee Cream Cities ??

http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/closeups/cream_city_brick/cream_city_brick.htm

That is a strange one!!!

I wonder what they had on THEIR jerseys??

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Posted By: barrysloate

You got it, but you looked it up. Perhaps a quart of milk or a stick of butter graced their uniforms. I don't believe there are any known photos.

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Posted By: Kevin Cummings

Hmmmmmm......when one of their players hit a home run did the mascot slide into a huge vat of heavy cream?

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Posted By: barrysloate

Let's see- a vat of cream hanging around the stadium for several hours on a 95 degree summer day- sounds like an olfactory nightmare.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Hal- I just checked my photocopy of the Just So Cy Young and it does in fact say "Cleveland" across the jersey; it is not blank as you stated.

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Posted By: paul

Did the Boston A.L. team ever really have that big "B" "A" on their jerseys? The E90-1 Young has those letters, but the same photo exists without the lettering.

Also, do any pictures exist of Young wearing the uniform with the big Red Sock across the chest (like the E95 Cicotte)?

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Isn't it ironic that no one seems overly concerned with the boozy name, mascot and trademark of that team even though we hear all sorts of bitching and moaning about fan drunkenness at ballgames from Bud Selig, fka the brewer in chief. It's like he's the spokesman for Pastors Against God.

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Posted By: barrysloate

Good point- a glass of milk sets a better example for the kids than a mug of beer...but you just can't beat a nice cold one, especially a good draught (is it draught or draft?).

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Posted By: Hal Lewis

Barry:

I saw this image from the W600 and figured it was the EXACT same one from the "Just So" card...

but I should have realized that they removed the "Cleveland" from his shirt in order to use his photo for the W600 while he was with Boston.

Can you once again post an image of the "Just So" Cy YOung card?

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Posted By: barrysloate

I actually have never posted the image because the owner specifically asked me not to do so. The card will be pictured in the Smithsonian book due out on October 1. Sorry about that.