Any idea which trade in baseball history involved the most HOFers???

[tedzan]

Hi Frank

Interesting stuff. And perhaps, the Kelley you cited is HOFer Joseph James Kelley ?
Who played for Pittsburgh briefly during the 1890's.

Best regards,

TED Z

[FrankWakefield]

Spec, I agree with the first part and am corrected.

I disagree with the 'roster consolidation' euphemism. I well understand that Louisville was in the process of departing the National League, and what was going on. But you have 2 different franchises, players' contracts being reassigned, money moving... that's a trade. Baseball Reference . Com uses the term trade.

And yes, Ted, I see that he's the fellow that managed at St. Paul and at Minneapolis. He managed in the minors for 30 years.


So 4 Hall of Famers:: Wagner, Clarke, Waddell, and Chesbro

[spec]

Chesbro was shuffled back to the Pittsburg roster before the 1900 season began and Louisville owner Barney Dreyfuss, another HOFer, wound up owning the Pirates franchise largely as a result of this deal. Decide for yourself whether this meets your definition of "trade."

[Vintagedegu]

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[Theoldprofessor]

In 1925, surviving members of the '00 - '01 Pirates gathered for a reunion. I have a signed ball from that event. Signatures include Kitty Bransfield (who signed himself "Lefty," though he neither batted nor threw left handed), Lee Tannehill, Claude Ritchey, Chief Zimmer, Tommy Leach, Charlie ("Deacon") Phillipe, Jimmie Burke, Ginger Beaumont, J. Honus Wagner, Fred Clarke, Jack Chesbro and Barney Dreyfus.

My favorite, next to the HOFers, is Chief Zimmer. We don't hear enough about him. If you're interested, see

http://www.thedeadballera.com/Obits/...hief.Obit.html

[FrankWakefield]

Zimmer, Beaumont, and Phillipe were really good ballplayers. Tannehill and Bransfield were good. Prof, have you a scan of that ball?

'spec', I will concede that it wasn't a normal trade... I'd think the League office expected to see trade forms, and the other owners thought it like two corporations swapping stock.

[Theoldprofessor]

I'll see if I can take a few pictures.