Deadball Era Heroes: Jimmy C
 

Who was the first third basemen to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown? Hint: he led his team to victory in the first World Series: James Joseph Collins.

As responsible as any single individual for both the success of the fledgling American League and its Boston franchise was none other than the first captain and player-manager of the Boston Americans, Jimmy Collins.

His fielding skills at third were unmatched in his day. In the deadball era, among the game’s most prolific offensive weapons was the bunt. It was routinely fielded by the shortstop, who had a greater distance to travel and a more awkward throw to make. Jimmy revolutionized the defensive approach by charging the play from third and often barehanding the ball! Collins was also a fantastic hitter, hitting .346 in 1897 and leading the league in home runs in 1898. Jimmy is truly an underrated innovator in the history of baseball!

Not mentioned in the renown documentary Baseball by Ken Burns, is the fact that the rabid fans of the early Boston Beaneaters of the N.L. (known as the Royal Rooters) switched to supporting the American League team not simply for the lower ticket prices as stated, but they did so to support their Irish hero, Jimmy Collins, as he switched to the AL team in 1901.

If you haven’t heard the song that immortalized Collins, google “Jimmy Collins’ Wake” by the Dropkick Murphys- it describes the famous funeral service held for the Boston star after his death. The song will brighten your day with its Celtic Punk beat!

Great to finally get a Polar backed T206 of Jimmy Collins. Please post your favorite Collins card…

Here is an E91A of Jimmy Collins with a (not mine) T204 for facial comparison purposes.

Brian

Nice, I think the generic photo actually looks like Collins.

I am always looking for an excuse to provide a link to the below thread that, in my opinion, convincingly suggests that E91 issues are not as generic as they have been identified as such for many decades. The artists creating the images seen in the E91A set (and almost half of the E91B set) utilized a photo of the player (as seen in cards from other sets of the era) to create the somewhat accurate facial likenesses seen in the E91A/part of E91B sets.

https://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=243920

Brian

E98 Eddie Collins that is allegedly Jimmy Collins.
_

Ive always wondered about that, thanks for posting!

Great stuff and great history lesson

Thanks for sharing

My only remaining E107 is Jimmy Collins. (The George Davis is no longer mine).

Awesome, that’s his rookie card in my book!

Great post! I still need 3 cards for my back run.

These are amazing! Something to shoot for. Thanks for sharing!

According to this classic N54 post, this is Jimmy Collins (weirdly fielding 2nd base in his dress shoes):
http://ibb.co/HLZsdCG
https://ibb.co/HLZsdCG
http://imgur.com/a/IF7ajCG

Wow, I have heard that rumor. Not sure how to prove/disprove it! Here's my earliest Collins at present, similar to one posted above. I consider it his third actual "card." Decent front, paper loss on back:

Here are the 1907 Morgan Stationary "Red Belt" postcard, and the black and white photo source image that was used. According to the website that was linked previously, it has been definitively identified as being Jimmy Collins. The basis of this definitive identification is not mentioned, but perhaps the photographer, which is known, identified it as such, or perhaps upon close examination the facial characteristics match Jimmy.

Brian

Cool.... thanks for the info Brian.

Great thread about a player Connie Mack said was the best 3rd baseman he ever saw. He did innovate the charging 3rd baseman and is said to have thrown out Jennings, Keeler, and McGraw who were trying to bunt for hits in his first game against Baltimore.

Jimmy Collins shares my hometown of Buffalo, N.Y. His first professional team was the Buffalo Bisons in the Eastern League. After the 1903 World Series he was feted at a banquet in his honor at a hotel in Buffalo. He moved back to Buffalo after his retirement and died there in 1943 before his enshrinement in Cooperstown.

Chickering cabinets are really beautiful photos. Here's Collins in 1899

All I can say is wow, never seen one of these pictured or in person. What an amazing cabinet card! Thanks for sharing.

Here's my copy of Jimmy T206 with a polar bear back! One of my favorites in my collection.

Gorgeous cabinet, and cool story! I didn’t know his Buffalo ties. I grew up in the finger lakes area. Go Bills tonight!

Sold this one, but always liked the T205.

Attachment 497831

Love it, just like mine, thanks for sharing!

Sweet! Hard to find that card in even a mid-grade example.

1909 Minneapolis Tribune supplement. Collins was the manager and also played third base.

Way to go Mark, that’s a unique item!

Craig - Thanks for posting your Chickering. Those are such awesome cabinets. IMHO, that is the best image of Collins in the hobby.

!00% in your debate corner Brian; very effectively delivered.
Slam, dunk, win.
Ben

"I love baseball history backstory; especially when it involves cards."

Craig.

Absolutely gorgeous.

Thanks for posting. Hope all is well.

Modern Pic
 

Here's an awesome modern interpretation of Jimmy Collins' famous portrait.
These are cool...

Jimmy is Eddie's brother, correct? Or am I making that up?

You made it up! Sorry no relation to Eddie.

That would be cool, but it's not correct.