Pre War Multi Sport Athletes and Coaches

[Piratedogcardshows]

I dont mind them and have others have said I wouldnt pay big bucks for them either. There is a really nice Virginia League Helmar Card with a T206 SL Portrait head shot from each team I wouldnt mind adding some day.

[Brian Van Horn]

Multi Sport, although not baseball. Canada's greatest male athlete of the first half of the 20th century:

[jefferyepayne]

Football HOFer Ernie Nevers:







Football HOFer Paddy Driscoll:



Football HOFer George Halas:



Amos Alonzo Stagg as a Yale baseball player:



John Heisman as a baseball coach:



jeff

[JustinD]

I was recently reading about the story of Alabama Pitts and was super intrigued. For those that are unaware, Pitts was convicted of armed robbery and sentenced to 8 to 16 years at Sing Sing in 1929.

In prison he joined the football, Baseball and basketball teams and was a star in all. He earned a reputation as "the most prominent jail-bird athlete in America". He tried out for two professional football teams during his sentence. After being released in 1935, he signed with the Albany Senators as a pro. After signing, the president of the NAPBL blocked his contract as he was against it. After a hearing the executive committee appealed to Kenesaw Landis who declared Pitts eligible. After injuries he played in only 43 games for the Senators and left after the 35' season. In fall of 35' he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles to play Halfback and DB. He was released after the seasons 4th game. In 36' he played basketball on a travel team with the Alabama Pitts All-Stars and resigned with the Senators in July of 36'. He spent the next few years bouncing around the Carolina league and Piedmont League in Baseball and the American Association in Football.
Pitts was never a star, but was very well known at the time and a really great story to dig into.

After reading this, I bought the following press photos as they told his story. Apologies for the auction shots with the watermark, I have not scanned them yet.

[argpdt]

That is an intriguing story. I am going to read up on it myself.

[bn2cardz]

Babe Didrikson
Two gold medals and one silver medal for track and field in the 1932 Olympics
Played on a touring basketball team
Played baseball having pitched innings in MLB during exhibition games as well with House Of David.
Played professional pocket billiards
Best known as a golfer.

[pherbener]

Mathewson wanted Red Grange to play baseball for him in Boston.

1925 Red Grange Illinois Baseball! Type 1. Cool Mathewson comments on reverse by Paul Herbener, on Flickr

[jefferyepayne]

Charlie Berry All-Pro Pottsville Maroons + MLB + Umpire









jeff

[tachyonbb]

Pid Purdy was a 5'6" 150 lb baseball and football player from Beatrice Nebraska. He played for the White Sox and Reds. He played 11 games for the White Sox in 1926. In the fall of 1926 he played football for the Green Bay Packers in the fledgling NFL. His stats are almost unbelievable, particularly for a player of his physical stature. He played quarterback and passed for 383 yards on 21 for 67 passing. He ran for 64 yards on 24 rushes. He caught 5 passes for 61 yards, punted 11 times with a 36 yard average, returned 29 punts for 323 yards, was 14 for 14 kicking points after touchdowns and had three interceptions as a defensive backs.

[jefferyepayne]

Football HOFer Earle "Greasy" Neale:



Thorpe:





jeff

[veloce]

Although T206 collectors often refer to Shag as overpriced, he had an interesting multi-sport career and is enshrined in both the Canadian Baseball HOF and the Canadian Football HOF (builder in both). Captained the Notre Dame Football team, played MLB, and made it to the Stanley Cup finals as coach of the Ottawa Senators in 1915 (swept by Vancouver, so unfortunately Shag's name isn't on the cup). Also of interest to card collectors, he managed to be featured on tobacco (T206, pictured + T209... need it), caramel (E222, need it), and prewar gum cards (V355 1936 WWG, pictured + R314-5... need it) and even managed to make a Topps card (1964 Topps Banquet as part of the Rookie all-star team selection committee... need it).

As long time president of the International League, he also had his sig stamped on IL balls for many years (1960 Toronto IL champs signed ball shown).

[jefferyepayne]

Alabama Pitts in his football gear:



Nags:





jeff

[JustinD]

Originally Posted by jefferyepayne

Alabama Pitts in his football gear:



jeff

Cool!
Thanks!