Billl Davis: rookie of the years

[ValKehl]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

The back of his 70 card shows Wolf had pitched in 248 minor league games to that point. That has to be a record for a guy appearing on a rookie card? I dare anyone to top it.

Peter, I'll take you up on your dare, assuming you DON'T count a card issued when a player was in the minors many years before he made it to the majors as being his RC. I am referring to Joseph John "Oyster Joe" Martina, who began his pro career in 1910 at age 20 with Savannah of the South Atlantic League. A T210-1 baseball card of Martina was issued in 1910 - see pics below. From 1910 through 1923, Martina pitched in 577 minor league games. After 14 years in the minors, Martina finally made it to the majors in 1924 with the Washington Senators at age 34, where he appeared in 25 games with a W-L record of 6-8 and a 4.67 ERA. He appeared in one 1924 World Series game and pitched one scoreless inning. His major league RC appears in the 1924 Diaz Cigarettes set (see pics below - please ignore the McGrew card), and I believe this is the only contemporary card issued of Martina as a major leaguer. Martina was a World Series winner in his only year in the majors! Martina pitched another 7 years in the minors, his last year being 1931 at age 41. He pitched in 764 games over his entire 21-year minor league career. https://www.baseball-reference.com/r...d=martin020joh