Please post pictures of James O'Rourke baseball cards, photos and memorabilia

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Posted By: Brad Green

I have been emailing back and forth with a great-great-grandson of Jim O'Rourke. He cannot afford to buy any of Jim O'Rourke's original cards, so I thought I would ask for your help to show him what cards, photos and memorabilia of O'Rourke exists. He is even looking for some pictures of the more modern cards from the 70's and 80's if you have scans of those available.

Could you please post whatever you can regarding Jim O'Rourke? I'm sure his great-great-grandson would appreciate it! Thanks in advance!

Brad

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Posted By: jay wolt

Here ya go...

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Posted By: Frank Evanov

Frank

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Posted By: Larry

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Posted By: Trevor Hocking

NOT MINE!! I stole these from the SGC registry site.
By the way these are a board members cards and I look at them often. They are amazing!

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Posted By: Bobby Binder

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Posted By: Preece1

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Preece, wow. Wow.

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Posted By: Trevor Hocking

Patrick I have to WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as well. That is such an amazing card.

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Posted By: Phil Garry

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Posted By: Brad Green

This is what the O'Rourke's great-great-grandson had to say last night. Pictures are posted below.

"I collect every image of O'Rourke that I can find, and there are several variations of those Old Judge cards that I don't have. Only a handful of original O'Rourke family photos have been saved through the generations, so this is my way of making a photo album of him. About 50 years ago there were hundreds of O'Rourke items of memorabilia saved in the family including uniforms, original team photos, bats, gloves, you name it. They had been stored in the house of one of his daughters. When she died, her son and his wife unfortunately threw out just about everything. One thing they did save was his 1879 Providence Championship Pin, which was donated to the Baseball Hall of Fame. I attached a color image of the Pin as well as a newspaper clipping at the time my uncle gave it to Cooperstown."

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Posted By: DMcD

"When she died, her son and his wife unfortunately threw out just about everything."

Takes the sting out of my mom throwing out all my '57 Topps cards in 1958.

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Posted By: Brad Green

Here are more details of what O'Rourke's great-great-grandson is looking for. He really does appreciate all of your help! If you don't want to post it here, please send it to me and I'll forward it to him. Thanks! Brad

This is from the great-great-grandson:

"The only 'recent' cards I still need are the:
1. HOF Artvue type 1 postcard and
2. 1973 Giants TCMA 1886 set including O'Rourke, which I've found very hard to locate. It is a reprint of the 1886 New York team and there are 14 cards in the set.
They shouldn't be too expensive so I'd like to purchase those, but a scan is the next best option.

Using the Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards as a guide, I made a list of James O'Rourke cards for which I would like to obtain an image (front and back if possible).

I have many low resolution and blurry scans of older cards including N172 and N173 cards. The cards themselves don't have to be perfect, but it would be helpful if the scan has good quality resolution.

Here is the list:

1886 J. Wood Studio N.Y. Giants Cabinets. (One version of card had caps artificially added.)
1886 Lorillard Team Cards, card # 3, New York League Base Ball Club
1886 New York Baseball Club (H812). These are 'Trade Cards' printed on paper, not cardboard.
1886 Old Judge New York Giants (N167), Orator Jim O'Rourke. The first issue by Goodwin &Co.
1886 W.H. Sanders New York Baseball Club (H812), are 'Trade Cards' printed on paper, not cardboard.
1887 Gypsy Queen (N175), Orator Jim O'Rourke, Fielding
1888 Yum Yum Tobacco (N403) / Portrait
1888 Yum Yum Tobacco (N403) / With bat

1887-1890 Old Judge (N172) Jim O'Rourke, New York, N.L.
Bat in hand at side, C., New Yorks.
Bat in hand at side, 3d B., New Yorks.
Bat in hand at side, 3d B. N.Y's.
Bat in hand at side, 3d B., N.Y's.
Batting, 3d B., New Yorks.
Batting, 3d B., N.Y's.
Fielding, 3d B. N.Y's.
Throwing, 3d B., N.Y's.

1888-1889 Old Judge Cabinets (N173), Jim O'Rourke
366a. New York, bat in hand at side
366b. New York, batting
366c. New York, throwing, hand head-high

O'Rourke's son Jimmie (James Jr.) also played baseball and I'm looking for a few images of him as well.

Jimmie O'Rourke cards (son of Orator James O'Rourke):
1911 T5 Pinkerton Cabinets, Jimmie O'Rourke
1908 NY Highlanders (precursor to Yankees) photo including Jimmie. He played in the majors only from 8-15-1908 to 10-8-1908.
and
1908 Sporting Life Team Composite of the New York, American League team. The card set is W601 and New York's composite is card # 13 in the SCBC Guide.

I also try to collect at least one team photo or team composite for each year O'Rourke played, and made a list of those I still need. I may have to make a trip to the National Baseball Library to locate the team photos, but maybe someone already has one.

TEAM and / or O'Rourke INDIVIDUAL picture from:
1872 Middletown Mansfields (Connecticut)
1880 Boston Red Caps. James & his brother John played on the same team and are probably in the same team photo.
1881 Buffalo Bisons
1883 Buffalo Bisons
1884 Buffalo Bisons
1887 New York Giants
1890 New York PLAYERS LEAGUE
1891 New York Giants
1893 Washington Senators
Thanks to everybody for their help!!
It is much appreciated!"

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Posted By: Jim VB

Don't have the Artvue, but here's the Albertype HOF PC.

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Posted By: Rhys

Ask and ye shall receive! Here is (from what I have been told) the only photo known to exist from the one day that James O'Rourke played with his son at Bridgeport in 1906. This would be Jams O'Rourke Junior and Senior together in uniform.

Rhys Yeakley

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Posted By: Addie_Joss

Wow, I can't believe they threw everything out. It is my goal in life to one day own something the Hall Of Fame would be interested in. I'd love to donate something to the Hall that I know they'd have on permanent display with my name next to it.

[Archive]

Posted By: barrysloate

Patrick's Kalamazoo Bats and that Providence medal are two amazing pieces!

[Nannette278]

Originally Posted by Archive

Posted By: Rhys

Ask and ye shall receive! Here is (from what I have been told) the only photo known to exist from the one day that James O'Rourke played with his son at Bridgeport in 1906. This would be Jams O'Rourke Junior and Senior together in uniform.

Rhys Yeakley

Hi Rhys.

I am the great-great granddaughter of James Henry O'Rourke. I just happened to stumble across the Net54baseball website while googling my great great grandfather. I read your post, but I was unable to see the picture you posted. If you wouldn't mind posting it again, I would love to see it. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Nannette

[rustywilly]

Jim O'Rourke(Left) and his son James Stephen O’Rourke (Right)

Hi Nannette-
Welcome to Net54!
I found the picture at...
http://www.bridgeportorators.org/HISTORY.html
Regards,
Mark

[Leerob538]

I enjoyed viewing this post, first tme i have seen his cards, James comes from nearby Bridgeport, Ct. They saved his house from demolition, & there is a group trying to turn it into a museum or some kind of tribute to him.

Lee

[daves_resale_shop]

http://www.clinard.org/figure/5.html

There is a statue of James O'rourke that stands outside of the ballpark at harbor yard in Bridgeport CT. It was unveiled a few years ago (shortly after his house was demolished)

Also, this gentleman may want to get in touch with Michael Bielawa-Baseball historian that focuses mainly on Baseball in the Park City... he has written several articles on James O'Rourke... He is an employee of the Bridgeport Public LIbrary and can be reached at 203-576-7417. Great guy, I am sure that he would like to speak with the Orator's relative...

Best Regards,
David

[oldjudge]

Unless I missed it there is also an extremely rare O'Rourke Kalamazoo Bats. There are only three copies known but it has the best portrait of O'Rourke that I know of.

http://robertedwardauctions.com/auction/2011/10.html

[Brian Campf]

Deleted

[GaryPassamonte]

O'Rourke is in the center in this picture. He is #20.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Very nice, Gary. What is that?

[GaryPassamonte]

Phil,
The image came from Deacon White's estate. He sits in the bottom row in the center. It shows the NA Boston Red Stockings and possibly a Philadelphia team fron 1873, 1874, or 1875. Opinions vary on the IDs and the year. Personally, I believe it is most likely 1874. Although each player is numbered, no key exists. The entire piece is about 11x14, with the image about 8x9.

[orator1]

I am the great-great granddaughter of James Henry O'Rourke. I just happened to stumble across the Net54baseball website while googling my great great grandfather. I read your post, but I was unable to see the picture you posted. If you wouldn't mind posting it again, I would love to see it. Thank you.

Sincerely,
Nannette

Hi Nannette, glad you discovered this site. Everyone here is very helpful.
Paul C.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Thanks for the info, Gary.

[orator1]

It's been a few years, so here is the current list of O'Rourke images still needed.

TEAM and / or O'Rourke INDIVIDUAL picture from:
1872 Middletown Mansfields (CT)
1880 Boston Red Caps. James & his brother John played on the same team and are probably in the same team photo.
1881 Buffalo Bisons
1883 Buffalo Bisons
1884 Buffalo Bisons
1887 New York Giants
1891 New York Giants
1893 Washington Senators

1897-1910 Bridgeport (except for 1906 - Thanks Brian)

CARDS
1886 New York Baseball Club (H812).
1887 Gypsy Queen (N175), Fielding
1888-1889 OJ Cabinet (N173), throwing, hand head-high
1887-1890 Old Judge (N172) Batting, 3d B., New Yorks.

Jimmie O'Rourke cards (son of Orator James O'Rourke):
1911 T5 Pinkerton Cabinet
1908 NY Highlanders photo including Jimmie. He played in the majors only from 8-15-1908 to 10-8-1908.

Any help is much appreciated!
Paul C.

[bcbgcbrcb]

I would also love to see the 1872 Middletown O'Rourke............

[sayhey24]

Here is O'Rourke's game used bat -- has his name stamped on both the knob and the other end, and is sidewritten with his full name.



Greg

[orator1]

Many thanks to everyone who posted. Great bat Greg and nice photo Brian. I've never seen either of those before. If anyone has other O'Rourke photos, memorabilia, etc., please post them. I appreciate it!
Paul C.

[bcbgcbrcb]

Here's an 1873 image of O'Rourke...............

[orator1]

Are there any bat experts out there who could estimate the time period of the bat posted above? Greg informed me that the sidewriting can no longer be seen (it's just too light), and that there is no center label.

[ghostmarcelle]

I'm not sure if this one has been shown or not

[orator1]

Thanks Matt for posting the Joseph Hall cabinet. The quality of your image is much better than the one I have.

I'm also looking for a good image of his 1886 J. Wood cabinet. Heritage sold one in 2009 but the image quality isn't that great.

http://sports.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleN...No=81009#Photo

[orator1]

Here is an item that has never been posted before. It's the 1889 report card of Jim O'Rourke's daughter Sarah, my great-grandmother. It was mixed in with a box of family photographs (not well protected), and I saw it over Thanksgiving for the first time when we were looking through photos. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Jim O'Rourke signed the report card.

I like the comment in the "Explanations" section: "Any number below 70 should cause solicitude to the parent". I had to brush up on my vocabulary...from Websters: "solicitude is a feeling of excessive concern, an uneasiness of mind occasioned by fear of evil or desire good, anxiety".

We also have a couple pieces of silverware that have Sarah's initials, "S.OR", on the handle.

[oldjudge]

This scorecard is from the May 7, 1880 match between the Boston and Troy (the date says May 11 but Troy came in for a three game series and for some reason this scorecard was used to score the first game which was Friday's). 1880 was the only year that Jim O'Rourke and his brother John played on the same major league team. In the Boston lineup Jim is batting second and John is batting third. This scorecard is also significant in that for Troy Roger Connor is playing in his fourth major league game and Mickey Welch is starting his second major league game.

[mighty bombjack]

Wow, orator, that's quite a find! O'Rourke autos pull big bucks. I have no idea if you're interested in moving a piece that has such personal history attached to it, but many HOF auto collectors would pay a lot to add something like that to their collection.

Also, for whatever it's worth, you may or may not have seen (or even have interest in) this cut signature card from 2004 Topps Tribute. It has been on ebay for quite a long time. No image there, just a cut auto.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/JAMES-JIM-OR...item20ae31d86f

[orator1]

Jay, thanks for posting the scorecard and for your help in locating O'Rourke cards. It is very much appreciated. Mighty, I've also noticed that $10K cut signature card on ebay for a while...it's too bad the signature is no longer part of the original document. By the way, your HOF autograph collection is pretty amazing.

[mighty bombjack]

Originally Posted by orator1

Jay, thanks for posting the scorecard and for your help in locating O'Rourke cards. It is very much appreciated. Mighty, I've also noticed that $10K cut signature card on ebay for a while...it's too bad the signature is no longer part of the original document. By the way, your HOF autograph collection is pretty amazing.

Thanks! No O'Rourke, of course. I don't currently have the funds for such a tough auto.

I agree about the card on ebay. I have wondered what the signature was cut from (and where Topps purchased it) for awhile now.

This is a great thread. I've learned a lot about your relative.

[GaryPassamonte]

Here is another scorecard featuring Jim O'Rourke. It is from 6/17/79. Notice Mike Kelly, in his second season, replacing Deacon White in the lineup.

[oldjudge]

Gary-That's John not Jim. Jim played for Providence in 1879.

[orator1]

Originally Posted by mighty bombjack

Thanks! No O'Rourke, of course. I don't currently have the funds for such a tough auto.

I agree about the card on ebay. I have wondered what the signature was cut from (and where Topps purchased it) for awhile now.

This is a great thread. I've learned a lot about your relative.

Here is some more info about O'Rourke from the website www.thefirsthit.org:

Born: September 1, 1850, at East Bridgeport, Connecticut
Died: January 8, 1919, at Bridgeport, Connecticut
Batted: right
Threw: right
Played for: Middletown Mansfields, Boston Red Stockings, Boston Red Caps, Providence Grays, Buffalo Bisons, New York Giants, New York Giants (PL), Washington Senators (NL)
Elected to Hall of Fame by Committee on Baseball Veterans: 1945

-The owner of the National League's very first hit on April 22, 1876, Jim O'Rourke played baseball until he was past the age of 50, after which he continued in the game as a manager, umpire and minor league president.

-Nicknamed "Orator Jim" due to his clever and robust use of the English language

-O'Rourke began his pro career in 1872 and played on six pennant-winning clubs in seven years, from 1873 to 1879.

-O'Rourke captured the National League batting title in 1884 by hitting .350, and in 1888 and 1889 helped New York to its first two league championships.

-When Jim O'Rourke took the field as catcher for the New York Giants on September 22, 1904, he set a record for oldest player ever to play in the National League.

-O’Rourke played Major League ball from 1872 - 1893 posting a lifetime .311 batting average

-Fiercely proud of his Irish heritage James refused to drop the “O” from his last name when signed by Boston in 1873

-James O’Rourke and his brother John were the first brothers to play on the same ML team in the outfield together (1880)

-O’Rourke is the first man to have played Major League ball in 4 different decades: the 1870s, 1880s, 1890s and one game in 1904 (at the age of 54!)

-When O'Rourke was courted by the New York Giants the team promised to make him one of the era’s highest paid players, but Jim would not sign until the Giants agreed to pay for his Yale Law education. The club consented and Jim graduated with Yale’s Class of 1887, and the Giants marched into the postseasons of 1888 and 1889.

-As owner, manager and player for the minor league Bridgeport Victors, Attorney James O’Rourke signed the first African-American to play for a Bridgeport pro team in 1895

-In a 1910 Boston Globe interview with Tim Murnane, O'Rourke states that "Baseball is for all creeds and nationalities"

-For the period 1876–1892, he ranks behind only Cap Anson in career major league games played (1644), hits (2146), at-bats (6884), doubles (392) and total bases (2936), and behind only Harry Stovey in runs scored (1370).(wikipedia)

[GaryPassamonte]

I'm slipping, Jay. I don't know how many good years I have left.

[orator1]

Thank you to those who sent me PMs regarding the 1889 High School report card of Jim O'Rourke's daughter Sarah, which is signed by Jim O'Rourke. As a follow up to post #37, O'Rourke's great-granddaughter (my mother) decided to put the report card up for auction with REA. I submitted a letter detailing the report card's history within our family, which I posted below. This is the first time we've auctioned anything related to O'Rourke. The few items we did have were donated decades ago to the Baseball Hall of Fame (signed baseball, 1879 Providence Championship pin). Hopefully someone from Net54 will be the winning bidder.
Paul

REA's description:
The signature of nineteenth-century Hall of Famer Jim O’Rourke is exceedingly rare and is often absent in even the most advanced autograph collections. Offered here is not only an outstanding example of that great rarity, but one that is accompanied by the ironclad provenance of originating directly from the O'Rourke family! O'Rourke's signature, penned "Jas. H. O'Rourke," appears on a Bridgeport High School report card, dated March 29, 1889, issued to his daughter Sarah, a member of the junior class. The signature, executed in black fountain pen within the appropriate box, grades "7," with the top portion of the "J" a little light. O'Rourke was probably extremely proud in signing this, as it is noted on the report card that Sarah was currently second in her class with a cumulative average of "98." It is also interesting to note that Sarah scored "97" in declamation, which was a course in oratory. The apple does not fall far from the tree and that is a grade truly befitting the daughter of "Orator Jim." Some advanced collectors might already be familiar with this piece because it was first made public on the Net54 chat board in January 2012, by our consignor: the great-great grandson of James O' Rourke. In his accompanying letter of provenance, he details the report card's history.

The remarkable provenance accompanying this piece cannot be overstated, especially when it relates to such a rare nineteenth-century Hall of Fame signature. Authenticity is always of paramount importance to autograph collectors and rare signatures, by their very nature, are the most difficult to authenticate in part because of the lack of exemplars. The fact that the offered piece comes directly from the family, and is accompanied by such a well-documented history, is probably the best assurance one can possibly have of its authenticity, outside of hopping in a time machine, setting the dial to 1889 and watching O'Rourke sign it personally. Adding to both the appeal and significance of this piece is that it was signed during O'Rourke's active playing career and is, to the best of our knowledge, the earliest known O'Rourke signature example.

O'Rourke was a member of the New York Giants' 1888 and 1889 World Championship clubs, and he finished the 1889 campaign with 3 home runs, 81 RBI, and a .321 average. O’Rourke played in the National Association, the National League, and the Player's League over the course of his nineteen-year career. One of the top hitters of his era, he finished his career with a .310 lifetime average and one batting title (1884 with Buffalo). He is also noteworthy for having made the first hit in National League history, in 1876. Twenty-eight years later, at the age of fifty-two, O'Rourke again made history by becoming the oldest player to play a complete game in the Majors. Coaxed out of retirement for one game by John McGraw, O'Rourke caught all nine innings for the Giants in a game against the Reds at the Polo Grounds on September 22, 1904. O'Rourke had one hit in four at bats as the Giants defeated the Reds 7-5 to clinch the National League pennant. O'Rourke originally retired after the 1893 season but remained in baseball in a number of capacities: managing in the minors, umpiring for one year in the Majors, and serving as president of the Connecticut League (which later became the Eastern Association). O'Rourke passed away in 1919 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1945. Although O'Rourke served in an official capacity for a number of years, his signature remains one of the most elusive of all Hall of Fame players.

The report card (5 x 6.5 inches) displays handling wear commensurate with its age and former use, including light, uneven, toning, a few small border tears and creases, and a tiny stain in the lower left corner. In Very Good condition overall. LOA from James Spence/JSA. Reserve $2,000. Estimate (open).
http://bid.robertedwardauctions.com/...x?itemid=22424

[barrysloate]

"Any number below 70 should cause solicitude to the parent."

Gotta love it!

[kkkkandp]

My mother was a teacher in the same public school system that I attended through the 8th grade. That caused a great deal of solicitude for the both of us.

My mother, however, got the last laugh - she sent me to Catholic high school.