Saturday, May 30, 2009

H&S: Brooklyn Portraits

After going through the Huggins & Scott Auction catalog another time I couldn't help but note these (3) 1899-1900 Sporting News Supplements of some Brooklyn players.

Below is William Brickyard Kennedy. He was a very good pitcher for the Superbas in the late 1890's.
Kennedy was a dominant pitcher in his first four seasons with Brooklyn, winning 25 games in 1893 and 24 in 1894. After averaging 17.5 victories in the next four seasons, he rebounded to win 22 in 1899 and 20 a year later. While pitching in 1901, he was bothered by arm problems and finished 3-5 in eight starts. He signed with the New York Giants at the end of the season.
Like any good fighter he shutout his former team in his first game as a Giant, 6 to 0. It sold for $400.00.

Mike Griffin joined the Brooklyn Bridegrooms in 1891. By 1897 he served as captain and as an interim manager in 1898. Griffin also became a disgruntled former employee.
After the 1898 season Brooklyn signed him to a $3,500 contract to manage the following season. But before the season started, Brooklyn and Baltimore merged and Baltimore manager Ned Hanlon was named Brooklyn's manager instead. Griffin was offered a $2,800 contract to play by Brooklyn, but he refused to sign. Brooklyn released him to the Cleveland Spiders, who then released him to the St. Louis Perfectos. After failing to receive a contract he felt he was worth from any team, he sued Brooklyn for the salary he believed they owed him from the contract he had signed and won a judgment of $2,300 from the club. He then unofficially retired from major league baseball.
It sold for $400.00.

James Jay Hughes spent only 2 years in Brooklyn. He is notable, though, because he threw a no-hitter on April 22, 1898 which was the same day that Cincinnati's Ted Breitenstein accomplished the same feat. This event was the first time no-hitters were thrown on the same day. Hughes time in the majors was short as he disliked playing on the east coast. He eventually ended his career playing in the Pacific Coast League. It sold for $400.00.