'Show us your Jeff Tesreau history' thread (collaboration with Kawika)

[dbussell12]

Show us your Tesreau history!! Talk stories, pictures, postcards, memorabilia, you name it. one of the great 'forgotten' deadballers of the 1910s. I'll attach my synopsis here that I wrote in the April pickups thread...



During the years of 1912-1915, Tesreau averaged 5.2 WAR, a 2.22 ERA, and almost 2x more wins than losses. In the year 1912, his rookie year, Tesreau registered a remarkable ERA of 1.96.

Tesreau was a giant of this period, when Mathewson began to age; assumed the role of lead ace as McGraw's Giants battled Joe Wood and Tris Speaker's Sox for the 1912 title. I've also attached a Type 1 photograph from my archive here that documents the highly anticipated matchup + battle between two of the widely considered (and statistically backed) greats of the 1912 season, Tesreau and Wood. They battled it out three times in the 1912 series, with Wood's Sox getting the better of Tesreau and the NYG in a strange and wild eight games.

Tesreau would go on to consistently articulate himself as one of the best pitchers in the game the following three years, with a WAR total beat only by Walter Johnson and Grover Cleveland Alexander during that four year period. Tesreau's career would abruptly end when questioned about his whereabouts by manager McGraw; he refused to answer, claiming his whereabouts away from the ballfield were his own business. After leaving baseball at the age of 29, he went on to coach at Dartmouth for 30 years.

"Over the course of his seven-year career he compiled a 119-72 record and 2.43 ERA while holding opponents to a .224 batting average (for comparison’s sake, Walter Johnson‘s career mark was .227, Christy Mathewson‘s was .245, and Pete Alexander‘s was .250, though each pitched considerably longer than Tesreau), leading the National League in that category in each of his first three seasons. “That big fellow has the best spitball in the league,” said Johnny Evers. “I think he is as good with the spitter as Ed Walsh.” -- SABR, Jeff Tesreau (player bio)

[dbussell12]

Tesreau 1912-1915

[Kawika]

Boom. That was fast. Gotta finish my Canadian taxes (today's the deadline in the cherished 51st state), run some errands, then visit my wife at her care home. Will make good on the dirty shirt vow later tonight.

[dbussell12]

Originally Posted by Kawika

Boom. That was fast. Gotta finish my Canadian taxes (today's the deadline in the cherished 51st state), run some errands, then visit my wife at her care home. Will make good on the dirty shirt vow later tonight.

love to hear it. have a great evening; looking forward to your share! great fun to talk NYG deadball and the old time history.

[nolemmings]

Well, here are a couple from 1916:

[dbussell12]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Well, here are a couple from 1916:

some great backs you have here. always enjoyed that diversity in the mid '10s sets.

[TCMA]

My original Paul Thompson portrait of Tesreau. Shot during his rookie season of 1912:




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[JJ McGraw]

I recently won this photo of the 1918 New York Giants at spring training in Marlin Springs, Texas. And front and center in the photo, Jeff Tesreau. I hope to get his 1915 Cracker Jack card if I can find one at a reasonable price.

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by JJ McGraw

I recently won this photo of the 1918 New York Giants at spring training in Marlin Springs, Texas. And front and center in the photo, Jeff Tesreau. I hope to get his 1915 Cracker Jack card if I can find one at a reasonable price.

Looks familiar .


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[brianp-beme]

Another Cracker Jack of Tesreau (one of my favorite poses in the set), this one a 1914 with a couple of well-placed chunk removals.

Brian

[JJ McGraw]

Andrew, were you the owner of the 1918 NY Giants photo?

[TCMA]

Originally Posted by JJ McGraw

Andrew, were you the owner of the 1918 NY Giants photo?

Nosir, I wrote the auction description.


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[Kris19]

Knowing that Kawika and I share common collecting interests, I’m not surprised to see that we both have one of the same Wood & Tesreau images. dbussell12, looks like we have one of the same also, including the same slug. Happy I can add a few more unique photos to the thread.

[tiger8mush]

At the age of 22, Mr. Tesreau pitched 274 innings over 33 games for Shreveport (Texas League) in 1910, going 15-14 with a 1.91 ERA

[dbussell12]

guys --- this is really great museum quality stuff to commemorate one of the greats of the era. thanks for sharing all of this; i'm sure it is and will be great to have this information archived on thread here for fellow seekers.

cheers --
david

[yanksfan09]

Maybe one day i'll find an upgrade on the D381, but not holding my breath, at least I have one!

[Kawika]

Well, here I am about six days later. Have been run pretty ragged and finally had a chance to assemble some scans. Some of my stuff will duplicate what others have posted. Some pretty cool Tesreau items already.

1910 T210



1911 Postcard - hat tip to Dave Eskenazi for the aloha





1912 NYG Team Portrait - Pach Bros.
One of my most beloved collectibles. The clarity is razor sharp. JT front row 3rd from right.



1912 World Series Opening Game Panoramic Postcard
That would be Tesreau on the mound.



1912 WS - Joe Wood & Jeff Tesreau - Bain photo



1912 Sporting News Supplement



1912 Team photo 8x10 size, photographer unknown. Apologies for poor snapshot.



Detail:



1913 NYG Team Portrait - Pach Bros.
JT behind mascot to left



1914 Cracker Jack



1916 M101-5



1917 Collins-McCarthy



1930 Boston Post Old Timers Game
Tesreau was the baseball coach at Dartmouth in those days. Seen in back row, fourth from left.



They say Charles Tesreau was nicknamed "Jeff" because his teammates thought he resembled the boxer Jim Jeffries. I'm not seeing it except for the big head but who knows.

[Kidnapped18]

Add another 14 CJ Tesreau