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A Collection of Baseball Firsts
Who hit the first grand slam? Who was the first pinch hitter? Presenting the nine players of Smithsonian’s "They Did It First" All-Star Team
By Mark Strauss
Smithsonian.com, September 14, 2009
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(Library of Congress)
On April 22, 1876, O’Rourke scored the first hit of the newly formed National League (NL) when he was playing for the Boston Red Caps. (The American League would jump from the minors to the majors in 1901; the American League and the National League are the two leagues that still compete today.) O’Rourke—who was playing with the New York Giants by the time he appeared on this 1887 baseball card—captured the National League batting title in 1884 by hitting .350, and in 1888 and ’89 helped New York to its first two league championships. An article in Sporting Life (1878) declared: “As a thrower, too, he stands preeminent, being credited with a throw of 365 feet, the next to the longest yet accomplished by any player.” O’Rourke was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.
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I recently found 2 baseball stamps from the Helmar Turkish cigarette company Factory #7 3rd district. One is player Groom (Washington AM) and the other is player Oldring (Philadelphia AM) wondering what kind of faace value they may have and where I could go to have them appraised. Thank you.
Posted by gay campisi on September 23,2009 | 01:07PM
Very interesting facts...I am looking to find a photo of my great grandfather Amos Smith Booth, Cincinnati Red Stockings who was the first I believe to have thrown by ladies in the seats to him on the playing field..."large hair-pins" seems he was a handsome man and the first person to be the receipient of large ladies hair pins as sosmething from female admirers?
Hopefully you can help me out with any information to help me collect a photo of this relative?
Thank you for your information on Issue Extras in the Smithonian magazine I subscribe to.
Regards, Judith Hughes
Hampstead N.C
Posted by Judith Hughes on September 24,2009 | 12:40PM
I have an 11 X14. Photo of Rube Waddell. He is in a St. Louis Browns uniform.
The photo is signed: Jack- Old Pal Here are I How are you
Geo. E. Waddell
I have been in possession of this item since 1961. The signature has not been authenticated. I would be willing to donate this item to the Smithsonian collection if there should be any interest. If the signature cannot be authenticated, or is a forgery, I would like to have the picture returned to me. Thank you.
Posted by david freedman on November 12,2009 | 12:23PM