The most deserving 19th Century Player not yet enshrined in the HOF

[familytoad]

From baseball reference.com=

In the January 10, 1918 issue of The Sporting News, Cap Anson picks his all-time team. Anson selects catchers Buck Ewing and King Kelly; pitchers Amos Rusie, John Clarkson, Jim McCormick; at 1B, himself; 2B Fred Pfeffer; 3B Ned Williamson; SS Ross Barnes; and outfielders Bill Lange, George Gore, Jimmy Ryan, and Hugh Duffy.

Notice that several of these players haven't made the HOF yet. I thought the OF choices were very interesting in particular.

I also thought I'd send along the link to Jimmy Ryan whose career was very good and he had a couple brushes with disaster, making this a cool read.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Jimmy_Ryan

[rhettyeakley]

Brian, you are probably already aware of this but a photo of Jimmy Ryan was accidently included in a set produced in 1909-1911, the E254 Colgan's Chips. The card was meant to depict Jack Ryan for St. Paul but somehow they mistakenly used a 1903 photo of Jimmy Ryan. This is the same photo that was used on Ryan's final card, his E107 Breisch-Williams...



The E107 is not my card.

[howard38]

"Notice that several of these players haven't made the HOF yet. I thought the OF choices were very interesting in particular."

__________________________________________________ _______________

It looks like every single one of the ones not in the HOF were teammates of Anson's. His list reminds me of the efforts of Frankie Frisch that allowed a few of his ex-teammates to sneak into the HOF.

[familytoad]

Thanks Rhett...Actually I didn't know that about Colgan's...I only have a few.

Stories like Jimmy Ryan's are why I collect cards in the first place!

Howard...I'm glad that Anson didn't lead a committee to induct HOF players based on teammate status. The comments going around regarding Bill James "Politics of Glory" really should have focused more on the Frisch era when many of the debatable HOFers obtained membership. That might have been one of the big points that Frank was making when he advised others to read the book. Of course, collectors are wise to that era, and some of the 1930's HOF players demand only small premiums over Non-HOFers in their contemporary sets.

When I said the Anson picks were "interesting", I should have also included that by 1918 a few fellows named Cobb, Lajoie and Wagner had pretty good careers...but Ol' Cap apparently wasn't "interested"!

I should also add...if George Gore gets in I have a chance to have the worst conditioned HOF Old Judge of all-time!

[howard38]

lol, goodluck w/the Gore, Brian!

I think Anson was suffering from what Bill James would call "old fogeyism".

Howard

[Misunderestimated]

Anson's list -- as implied above -- over-represents his own players. If he had been in Frankie Frisch's position then they would all be in the HOF.....

Gore and company are as good as Highpockets Kelley, Travis Jackson and Freddie Lindstrom.....