Most Interesting Old Judge Players

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by oldjudge

John--you could hoard all the _arrys. You already hoard Larry-- you could work on the Harry's, the other Larry's, and the Barry's and Garry's if there are any.

Larry Corcoran once called someone who couldn't field their position well, a "field ornament" in the newspaper and now writing up scouting reports, I use that phrase. Is that interesting? If it is, I'll post one of his cards

[SetBuilder]

"pebbly" Jack Glasscock

[Matthew H]

Originally Posted by z28jd

Larry Corcoran once called someone who couldn't field their position well, a "field ornament" in the newspaper and now writing up scouting reports, I use that phrase. Is that interesting? If it is, I'll post one of his cards

That's funny!

[oldjudge]

John--you might as well post the hoard

[z28jd]

I haven't taken a new family photo since the last addition(he knows he's the ugliest one too), so here it is in two pics. I'm sure they share some interesting stories with each other

[kkkkandp]

Jake Wells' bio was an interesting one...

"...Making the major leagues is every baseball player’s dream, but Jake Wells’ life after his baseball playing days were over was far more interesting. Wells had two brief stops in the big leagues – one with the Detroit Wolverines in 1888 and the other with the Saint Louis Browns in 1890. His lifetime totals were meager – 34 games, 46 hits, .210 batting average. While logging time as the player/manager of the Richmond Bluebirds of the Atlantic League he entered a store to purchase a leather strap to bundle some baseball bats. He inquired about the store's odd architecture. The store was a former opera house. Upon leaving the store Wells commented there was money to be made with a popular-priced vaudeville. He bought and reopened the building as the Bijou Family Theatre. Richmond's first vaudeville house was an immediate success. By the early 1920's Jake Wells was known as The Father of Vaudeville in the Southeast and operated 42 theatres in nine states. In 1921 he was awarded ownership of the Richmond Colts in the Virginia League. All this success, however, apparently came with pressure. On March 16, 1927, Jake Wells shot and killed himself. His doctor reported that Wells seemed to have worked himself to death..."

[bbcard1]

It is a great and expansive set during an era where most all ball players were characters. Though not obscure, i would submit Billy Sunday is as interesting as any player ever to play the game. After growing up in an orphanage, he carouser with the best of them, when he converted to Christianity at the height of his career and left the game to work in service. He found a knack for preaching and became the most significant evangelist of the early 20th century...I'd say the most significant evanagelist of all time behind Billy Graham and ...well....Jesus. He was the key and driving force behind prohibition and had prohibition "taken" would be considered one of the more significant people in American history. His ministered to millions in traveling revivals in days where there was at best crude amplification. His ministry was never tainted by allegations of wrongdoing, through some people thought he made too much money.

Here's an old clip of him preaching. :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QgQuc_1pyY

I wanted to be involved in Old Judge collecting though I only have a couple and I recently decided that a Billy Sunday run was the way I was going to go. Have one down...but they come up quite a bit and are not overly expensive considering.

[Wite3]

The Phillies seemed to be a magnet for interesting old judge players...mentioned before are Irwin and Decker, I am sure Delahanty, Gleason and Brouthers will be talked about as well.

Little known catcher Jack Clements was a very interesting player. Clements was a left handed catcher (nearly unheard of in the history of major league baseball). He was first catcher to catch 1000 games in the major leagues. Credited with creating and wearing the first chest protector. Only day to day player of the 19th century to retire with more HRs than triples. Actually held the record for HRs by a catcher (career and season) until 1925 (Gabby Hartnett broke it FYI).

Batters learned to duck when Jack threw down to second...rumored that he threw no matter what because if he hit the batter, it was often called interference and the runner would be out.

Clements was also rumored to be a true studier of the game and players. He would talk about opposing players often and their hitting styles, stances, base running, etc. helping his team.

Played his last major league game in 1900 with Boston.

Joshua

[auggiedoggy]

Originally Posted by bbcard1

He was the key and driving force behind prohibition and had prohibition "taken" would be considered one of the more significant people in American history.

Stone him!!!

[edhans]

Originally Posted by kkkkandp

Jake Wells' bio was an interesting one...

His lifetime totals were meager – 34 games, 46 hits, .210 batting average. "

I'm sure I'll be the only geek to notice, but those numbers don't add up. It wold take 219 at-bats for 46 hits to yield a .210 average. Divided over 34 games, that would average out to almost 6 1/2 at-bats per game. Seems a little high, even for that era.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by edhans

I'm sure I'll be the only geek to notice, but those numbers don't add up. It wold take 219 at-bats for 46 hits to yield a .210 average. Divided over 34 games, that would average out to almost 6 1/2 at-bats per game. Seems a little high, even for that era.

He reversed the numbers, 46 games, 34 hits. Old age will do that to you