Provenance of a Vintage Card - Share another Story

[Matt]

This PC with "Moonlight" (back row 3rd from left) was sent from his manager Hank Ramsey (also in photo) to Bill McCabe. Ramsey & McCabe were founders of the Hudson River League and managed together in the Hudson River League from 1903-1906. In 1907 Ramsey left to coach Scranton and the league folded mid-season.

In 1903, one of the more prominent citizens of Poughkeepsie, New York, was William A. McCabe. McCabe, the Chief of Police and "tenement" investor, had been a professional baseball player with the 1886 Poughkeepsie team in the old Hudson River League, primarily at second base, and had sponsored semi-professional teams in Poughkeepsie since the mid-1890's. McCabe had been acquainted with J. H. Farrell, President of the New York State League and Secretary of the National Association, for many years. In mid-March, McCabe and Farrell called a meeting "for the purpose of forming a league."

Working closely with these men was Henry D. Ramsey, a long-time minor league player and manager, who had been retained by the Kingston stock company as its manager for 1903. On March25 and again on April 1, meetings were held which resulted in forming the Hudson River Baseball League for 1903. Franchises were taken up by Ossining, Newburgh, Hudson and Saugerties, as well as Kingston and Poughkeepsie. Elected President was McCabe, Secretary was Ramsay, and Treasurer was Col. H. D. Claflin of Saugerties. Application was made to the National Association for the Class C classification; admission was received on May 5.

Ramsey's place in baseball history is for a player with a slightly more accomplished career then Graham (source):

Ramsey was born in 1869 at Paterson and was a manager of various minor league teams during a long and successful baseball career.' It was Ramsey who aided Hans Wagner to attain baseball fame and many critics have credited him with being the real discoverer of the great Honus.
It was said that Hank, as he was familiarly known, gave Wagner's brother, Al. Wagner, a baseball job in Paterson, and he in turn asked for a chance for brother Hans, which was given.

[iggyman]

I have a couple, but my W554 providence "do the cards talk to you(?)" story will always be my favorite:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...highlight=w554

Lovely Day...

[mybuddyinc]

We've seen a few "Theo V. Temple" exhibits over the years, but this *may* be his signature:

temple sig.jpg




Once, again, if S. Aff is on-line, I have your card:

sapp.jpg

[Howe’s Hunter]

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...howe+mccormick

Now the collection stands at an even 200. Also found out through business records that the address was not only a home, but the address of grocery store owned by McCormick's dad and his business partner, whose last name was Howe.

[Runscott]

Originally Posted by StuckInOmaha

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthr...howe+mccormick

Now the collection stands at an even 200. Also found out through business records that the address was not only a home, but the address of grocery store owned by McCormick's dad and his business partner, whose last name was Howe.

Ed, could it be that the owner of the store stamped them and handed them out as advertising? If they were the kid's, I would expect him just to scribble his name on the back.

[Howe’s Hunter]

Business records from the county say that Howe had a partner named McCormick, but the partners name was not part of the store name.

Also wouldn't explain the one card that has Howe McCormick as an agent for the Saturday Evening Post, with the same address. No, they belonged to the kid named Howe.