Interesting 1911 NY Highlanders card with Chase content

[calvindog]

Justin "Mike" Fitzgerald had a brief major league baseball career, playing in just a handful of games for the NY Highlanders in 1911 and the Phillies in 1918 (where he led the league in pinch hits with 8). In between he played in the PCL for a number of teams, leading the league in hitting once. His claim to fame professionally was having played with the Highlanders when Hal Chase was the player/manager in 1911. Fitzgerald was just 20 that year and had just 37 at bats.

Here's a handwritten card he sent to "Henry" wherein he talks about Chase as "the greatest 1st Baseman of all time" as well as teammate Harry Wolter who later became the long-running manager of Stanford's baseball team.



In this note he mentions a postcard of the 1911 Highlanders that he was to send along to Henry; he was referring to this PC, the only card I believe he's ever been on. Fitzgerald is at the top to the left of Chase's head. Wolter is at the left margin, in the middle.



This is the full content of the index card note to Henry:

My Dear Henry
Hal Chase
the greatest 1st Baseman
of all time was the Mgr
of N.Y. in 1911. You may
be able to get his autograph
by writing Alameda County
Hospital. He has been sick
and things have been break-
ing tough for him.
Harry Wolter, Baseball
“over”
Coach at Stanford University,
located at Pao Alto
was also a member of that
1911 team.
I believe I have
a post card of the club and
if I can find it will
mail it to you. The Yankees’
were nicknamed the High-
landers in those days.
Justin Fitzgerald