Who or what is Lew Stick?

[Al C.risafulli]

Hi everyone:

Once in a while I run into a question that completely stumps me. Since we did this sort of thing once before with an outstanding result, I'm going to put this one to the board.

In the upcoming January LOTG auction, we're offering what is just about the coolest autographed item I've ever seen. It's a large poster that was created for Lou Criger, and signed by 49 deadball era figures at an old-timer's game sponsored by the Boston Post in September of 1930 at Braves' Field. If you're interested, you can read a little bit about the piece here.

The piece has been with Criger's family since it was given to him in 1930. It's very large, so each of the signatures is about 3" across. I've been lugging it around with me to shows, so maybe some of you have seen it.

It was pretty easy to identify all the names on the piece, with one exception. Underneath Jeff Tesreau's signature (second row, third from bottom), is written "Stick Stick Lew Stick." I have no idea what this refers to - is it a person? Is it a product, or an event, or a reference to a story?

I'm stumped. If anyone can figure it out, there's a $250 auction credit for the first person to , since it'll help me finish up my description on the lot!

Here's the piece:



What do you think?

-Al

[RCMcKenzie]

My guess is that Jeff Tesreau (rookie star pitcher for NYG starting in 1912) was making a joke salutation of an earlier player/catcher known for his stellar defense and not for his hitting and misspelled his first name..Criger's last MLB season was 1910...

[swarmee]

Tend to agree. It's probably a nickname or greeting to Criger from Tesreau. Similar handwriting. Because either he wrote it, or he signed after it was already there, otherwise he would have signed in the full block. And if he chose to sign in that specific block once "Stick Stick Lew Stick" was there, it took up much more space than some of the other blocks.

[Yoda]

I have been trying to read the small note outside of Altrock's signature box, first line outside the margin. Does it say, "Still sh#%ty. Hope you are ok."? I guess that would be in keeping with the dinner's theme. Incredible piece.

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by Yoda

I have been trying to read the small note outside of Altrock's signature box, first line outside the margin. Does it say, "Still sh#%ty. Hope you are ok."? I guess that would be in keeping with the dinner's theme. Incredible piece.

"Still Nutty"

[iwantitiwinit]

It has to be a personal reference/inside joke between Tesreau and Criger. Sticking was a commonly term in the early 1900's (still used today though less so) describing someone's ability or when used in a derogatory or ribbing fashion their inability to hit. The phrase was even used by Louis Masur in his book Baseball's First World Series on page 18 when he speaks about the hitting ability of Eddie Phelps in relation to Criger...... "adherents dismissed Young and Dinneen as being more lucky than skillful, and they trumpeted their catcher Eddie Phelps as a superior "stick"- man to his weak-hitting counterpart "Lou Criger".

Tesreau was kind heartedly razzing Criger using the common terminology of the day.

The only other thing it could be was when Jesse Burkett let Criger use his favorite bat/stick that Criger subsequently broke. From the Sacramento Union in 1908...He told Lou that he would let him use the famous stick for a few days until it had taught him how to hit, for he claimed hi* bat had that virtue, but made the catcher swear that he wouldn't hurt it and that he would return it before the big league race became close. One day he told his teammates that he wished he had his bat back, as he had a hunch that some harm was happening to it, and he declared that he was going to write for it that night. The same day that Burkett had the hunch Criger broke the famous stick so that it couldn’t be repaired. Here's the link...http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SU19080809.2.159

But I still think the reference is a general one relating to his inability to hit.

[CW]

Could that actually be "SLICK stick Lew stick"?

[Sean1125]

Is Jeff Tesreau Jewish? Is anyone referenced Jewish?

I agree it may be some sort of inside joke, I do not agree the letter is an L. F/J cannot be ruled out.

"Slick Stick Few Stick"
"Slick Stick Jew Stick"
"Slick Stick Lew Stick"

[Kawika]

It looks like it reads Stick (comma) Stick (hyphen) Lew Stick so Stick, Stick, Lew Stick. One of the meanings of stick is endure. Employing the imperative mood maybe the writer is telling Criger in a colloquial way to "hang tough". The letter "t" in the first Stick is not consistent with the other t's so that is problematic. The "e" in Lew is consistent with Tesreau's e's (and certainly not with 'Nuf Ced McGreevey's above). The flow is also mindful of Tesreau's penmanship. The "L" in Lew has that loopy look to it (kinda like Gehrig's L). Jew Stick? I don't think so. Maybe Big Jeff was a bad speller. This thread should be copied to the autograph side so the experts can have a look.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Kawika

It looks like it reads Stick (comma) Stick (hyphen) Lew Stick so Stick, Stick, Lew Stick. One of the meanings of stick is endure. Employing the imperative mood maybe the writer is telling Criger in a colloquial way to "hang tough". The letter "t" in the first Stick is not consistent with the other t's so that is problematic. The "e" in Lew is consistent with Tesreau's e's (and certainly not with 'Nuf Ced McGreevey's above). The flow is also mindful of Tesreau's penmanship. The "L" in Lew has that loopy look to it (kinda like Gehrig's L). Jew Stick? I don't think so. Maybe Big Jeff was a bad speller. This thread should be copied to the autograph side so the experts can have a look.

Nice suggestion about the autograph section. Consider it done! Thanks David, hope all is well your way...