John Frill backstory

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Actually, there weren't too many MLB players who succumbed to the 1918 version of 2020. It's quite surprising that more didn't perish. I was just thinking about it this afternoon. There were a few active players who were lost back then, whereas we can hope that the total of active Major Leaugers lost in this pandemic will stand at zero.

Edited to add a (likely partial) list of players either lost to the Spanish Flu or who died from influenza within a short time of that pandemic:

Frank Arellanes
Ray Boyd
Harry Chapman
Larry Chappell
Gene Curtis
Walt Dickson
John Frill
Fred Gaiser
Harry Glenn
Jack Lapp
George Leclair
Matty McIntyre
Phil Routcliffe

There are a couple of players on here who died post-1918-1919, yet family records I've gathered still attribute their deaths to the 1918 pandemic.

[dealme]

Originally Posted by BillyCox3

Actually, there weren't too many MLB players who succumbed to the 1918 version of 2020. It's quite surprising that more didn't perish. I was just thinking about it this afternoon. There were a few active players who were lost back then, whereas we can hope that the total of active Major Leaugers lost in this pandemic will stand at zero.

Edited to add a (likely partial) list of players either lost to the Spanish Flu or who died from influenza within a short time of that pandemic:

Frank Arellanes
Ray Boyd
Harry Chapman
Larry Chappell
Gene Curtis
Walt Dickson
John Frill
Fred Gaiser
Harry Glenn
Jack Lapp
George Leclair
Matty McIntyre
Phil Routcliffe

There are a couple of players on here who died post-1918-1919, yet family records I've gathered still attribute their deaths to the 1918 pandemic.

I was reading through your list (too quickly obviously) and read the second and third entries as "Ray Chapman". I had to re-read it. I love the historical rabbit holes that turn up on this site.

Cheers,
Mark

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by dealme

I was reading through your list (too quickly obviously) and read the second and third entries as "Ray Chapman". I had to re-read it. I love the historical rabbit holes that turn up on this site.

Cheers,
Mark

Same thing!

[Kevin]

Cycle 460
Lennox
Uzit

I gather as one approaches the 520, these come in to focus? Here is the thing. I am almost 48 years old and am embarking on this journey that I had abandoned for 20 years. Then I’d go to the Hofstra show or the Long Island Marriott show once every two years between 2000-2018 , run into John Goodman (from the Hamptons) and he’d joke with me that I always forget my “list”. Is 520 realistic? Is 520 plus a Magie or the 3 hard Frill’s realistic?

I’m not sure. But I’m diving in. Thanks for the encouragement, folks!

You guys wonder about these players like I do. Is there a thread of family ancestors here on net54? Anyway, getting a bit nostalgic here; a tad romantic. I think the MOST exciting thing here is sharing this with my 6 and 4 year old. I show them the cards and they are sort of interested? Faking interest? But maybe there is a little spark there. Maybe they’ll continue the set if I can’t.

Damn, this is sort of exciting.

[lumberjack]

Isn't there a possibility that Germany Schaefer was killed by the Spanish Flu. He was suffering from TB and went to upstate New York, where the air was said to be cleaner, to recover. Schaefer died early in 1919 and who isn't to say that his condition wasn't exacerbated by the pandemic. And yes, I know that the Spanish Flu probably didn't originate in Spain.
lumberjack

[BillyCoxDodgers3B]

Prince Schaefer's obit lists cause of death as a hemorrhage, whereas his death certificate lists tuberculosis with the hemorrhage being a contributing factor.

It's funny you should bring this up, though, as besides Schaefer, two other young players come to mind who also died from TB/pneumonia in 1918: George Kaiserling and Newt Halliday.

[Kevin]

Acquired two John Frill’s from a gentleman’s collection over on the BST:

Sovereign 460
Piedmont 460 (Factory 25)
Sweet Caporal 460 (Factory 30)

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by BillyCox3

Actually, there weren't too many MLB players who succumbed to the 1918 version of 2020. It's quite surprising that more didn't perish. I was just thinking about it this afternoon. There were a few active players who were lost back then, whereas we can hope that the total of active Major Leaugers lost in this pandemic will stand at zero.

Edited to add a (likely partial) list of players either lost to the Spanish Flu or who died from influenza within a short time of that pandemic:

Frank Arellanes
Ray Boyd
Harry Chapman
Larry Chappell
Gene Curtis
Walt Dickson
John Frill
Fred Gaiser
Harry Glenn
Jack Lapp
George Leclair
Matty McIntyre
Phil Routcliffe

There are a couple of players on here who died post-1918-1919, yet family records I've gathered still attribute their deaths to the 1918 pandemic.

I actually have complete back runs of

Boyd
Chapman
Curtis
Dickson
Gaiser
Glenn
Lapp
Leclair
Routcliffe