Members related to Pre-War Ballplayers?

[npa589]

I just met the Great Granddaughter-in-Law of Edward Phelps (her husband is the great grandson) by way of selling her a C46 Imperial Tobacco card I had of him. She was thrilled to get the card, and has been searching for a card of him for each of their children. The C46 card will be a surprise gift to her husband, and her joy for acquiring must speak for his pride in his father, and in his father's father, and in his father's father's father. I'm a sucker for genealogy, and when baseball is intertwined - it's all the more intriguing.


I suggested that they may be interested in joining this site, especially since I have seen many other members who seem to have palpable connections to ballplayers of the past by way of name correlation, and I know I have spoken to people who are not so palpably connected, most likely because their relation is maternal.

I love stories like this, as I am sure many of you do, so I thought it would be neat to start a thread for members that are related to Pre-War ballplayers! As we all know, a large part, if not the largest part of collecting is contextual value which manifests itself into sentimental value. I would love to read of other stories similar to this that led people into the hobby for familial reasons!

Please share any details you would like with regard to the relation, and any pictures of items you would like to share - whether "mass"-produced or sentimentally valuable.



I'll start it off with a W600 portrait of Edward Phelps. They were aware of the fact that Edward Phelps was a member of the Pittsburgh team that played in the very first World Series, which took place in 1903. Of the two known W600 variations of Phelps, the 1903 one is of Phelps on Pittsburgh and is one of only 2 cards that portray him on the Pirates. Needless to say, she is now looking for one!

*Scan is from VCP.

[kmac32]

Elmer Miller who was the center fielder for the 1921 Yankees is my great great uncle. He was the first Yankee to ever get a hit in a world series and the first Yankee to ever score a run in a world series.

[npa589]

That's awesome. I guess then that it is safe to say that he literally started the dynasty. (by the way --- go Cubs.)

[phikappapsi]

Joe DiMaggio was my grandfathers first cousin. Though they never met, their parents had a falling out due to Joe Ds parents having some "unsavory affiliations"

[kmac32]

In a way, you might say that. LOL. However I'm a die hard Cub fan and dispose the Yankees. Do have a mini Miller museum in my home however.

[npa589]

Wanted to bump this to give some more people a chance to share.

.

[bbcard1]

I suspect but have not been able to confirm a connection to John Marcum of the just post dynasty Philadelphia As

[bh3443]

Here's a relative on my Dad's side from Sweden.
Not a sports card, but he was pretty famous in his field!
Regards,
Bill Hedin
PS: I have a newspaper clipping (somewhere, need to find it!) of a relative on my paternal grand-mother's family (Messier) who played minor BB in the 40's.
This is a fun thread! Thanks, Bill Hedin

[bh3443]

I need to thank my good buddies on the no sport part for helping me get enough of this card and Sven Hedin's other cards from Europe for my family!
Dan C. and Ron Levin, THANK YOU guys!
Dan and I go back to the mid 70's and Ron has been my friend since I met him at age 10 at one of my shows. Ron and our youngest daughter went to Prom's together!
These two guys are among the smartest and best people I've had the pleasure to know.
Regards,
Bill Hedin

[drc]

My great grandfather was the quarterback of the first Michigan State football team in the 1880s. My parents have the team photo somewhere.

[aquarius31]

Originally Posted by drc

My great grandfather was the quarterback of the first Michigan State football team in the 1880s. My parents have the team photo somewhere.

Hey David, does this MSU team photo look familiar? I recently contacted the MSU archives regarding a 19th century baseball photo and in my research I came across this football photo which is the first 'official' football team. PM me if you want the contact person over there as she was very helpful.

George

[Jayjones82]

My grandfather played in the minors for the Tigers after WWII (he played in the mill leagues before the war), but came back to GA when my grandmother had their first child (my dad).

[E93]

Bill,
Was he a famous explorer or something? That looks like the Potala Palace (the Dalai Lama's monastery) in Lhasa, Tibet in the background.
JimB

Originally Posted by bh3443

Here's a relative on my Dad's side from Sweden.
Not a sports card, but he was pretty famous in his field!
Regards,
Bill Hedin
PS: I have a newspaper clipping (somewhere, need to find it!) of a relative on my paternal grand-mother's family (Messier) who played minor BB in the 40's.
This is a fun thread! Thanks, Bill Hedin

[CubsFanCurt]

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...arrebi01.shtml

He is on my father's mom's side. They used pig bladders as catcher mitts. a ball nailed him in the eye and he had complications from it that affected him until his death

[Tuna82]

Great thread...thanks to who everyone who shared.

[npa589]

Talk about pre-war, impressive.

Originally Posted by CubsFanCurt

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl...arrebi01.shtml

He is on my father's mom's side. They used pig bladders as catcher mitts. a ball nailed him in the eye and he had complications from it that affected him until his death

[attellfan4life]

My great great Uncles Abe Attell and Monte Attell both world boxing champs in the early 1900s. Of course Abe being involed in the 1919 world series fix as the go to guy.

[Drew6]

Not sure this counts, but I just found out that my brother's wife is the great niece of Edgar Clough - a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1924-1926 or 1927. He was on the 1926 World Series Chapmion team that beat the Yankees. I am now looking for any card, etc... he may be on. I know he is on the M101-7 Sporting News Supplement. If anyone has one in nice shape for sale, let me know - we are trying to put a collection for him. As an 10 year old - that would be a pretty cool piece. Drew

[Exhibitman]

Grandpa's 1st cousin, so my 1st cousin twice removed:




1951 Ringside signed release:




Promo photo from when he signed to fight for the lightweight title; Jack Dempsey was to promote it. Unfortunately, the fight was signed for on October 6, 1929, less than 4 weeks before the stock market crash. I suspect that the crash derailed the promotion.


Another 1st cousin twice removed:

[Bocabirdman]

Mr Miller's former Deerfield Beach Address is literally two blocks from where I lived for five years when I first moved down here to Florida.

[kkkkandp]

The best I can claim is to have been related through marriage to former major league pitcher Jim Beattie.

[yanksfan09]

One of my friends is somehow related to Cy Young, some sort of Great Great Uncle. I actually helped him acquire his first and only baseball card, a 1913 National Game Cy Young, from a member on this board. His Grandmother has a signed and personalized photo, but I've never seen it in person.

Another good friend of mine, his stepmother was related to Nat Fein who took the famous "Ruth Bows Out" Photo. His family has a vintage large signed print of that photo as well as a bunch of other Fein photos.