Chantilly October 2024

[parkplace33]

How is the show? Unfortunately, I am away this weekend.

[ValKehl]

I picked up these 2 scarce/rare cards for my 1924 Senators collection at the Chantilly Show. I got the Witmor Candy - Peckinpaugh card from William Chappell (sp?) and the 1921 White's Tip Top Bread - Ben Egan card (the only card issued during his career) from Net54 member Dan Mckee. Both of these dealers are really good guys.

Ben Egan never played for the Senators, however he was on the coaching staff for part of the 1924 season. Here's a couple of excerpts from his interesting SABR bio - https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Ben-Egan/

"Ben Egan’s career and reputation are little known and remain part mystery, part legend. Though Egan was predominantly a backup catcher during his four major-league seasons, he was an important cog for many of the best minor-league teams in baseball history. He was also an influential teammate and mentor during the early careers of three Hall of Fame pitchers, Lefty Grove, Stan Coveleski, and Babe Ruth. Egan spent about 22 years in professional baseball as a player, coach, and manager. When his professional coaching career ended in 1928 with the International League Baltimore Orioles at the age of 45, he continued managing and coaching for the next 15 years in his hometown."

"Egan was the primary catcher for the Orioles in 1921 at the age of 37. The 1921 team, considered by some baseball historians to be the best minor-league team ever assembled, fashioned a 27-game winning streak on its way to winning 119 games."

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by ValKehl

Ben Egan never played for the Senators, however he was on the coaching staff for part of the 1924 season.

How interesting, Val! That's a new name for me in connection with the 1924 Nats. As you know, numerous players came and went that year trying to fill an outfield spot to go with Rice and Goslin, also many pitchers and other utility players juggled in and out over the course of the season. Even at the end, going into the World Series, they had two guys, Ralph Miller and Tommy Taylor, with barely a handful of major league appearances under their belts, which is nuts when you think about it. I believe they let coach Jack Chesbro go mid-season to fulfill a promise Griff had made to Al Schacht several years earlier, but I'd love to know the story of Egan, and why he came and went so quickly.

[kcohen]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

How interesting, Val! That's a new name for me in connection with the 1924 Nats. As you know, numerous players came and went that year trying to fill an outfield spot to go with Rice and Goslin, also many pitchers and other utility players juggled in and out over the course of the season. Even at the end, going into the World Series, they had two guys, Ralph Miller and Tommy Taylor, with barely a handful of major league appearances under their belts, which is nuts when you think about it. I believe they let coach Jack Chesbro go mid-season to fulfill a promise Griff had made to Al Schacht several years earlier, but I'd love to know the story of Egan, and why he came and went so quickly.

Hey Hank. I believe you forgot Nemo Liebold who I believe logged more games in left field than Taylor and Miller. Incidentally, he got the winning hit in in the 7th and decisive game of the ‘24 WS. I’m trying to recall who the winning pitcher was in that game but it just won’t come to me. 😎








who the winning pitcher was.

[Hankphenom]

Originally Posted by kcohen

Hey Hank. I believe you forgot Nemo Liebold who I believe logged more games in left field than Taylor and Miller. Incidentally, he got the winning hit in in the 7th and decisive game of the ‘24 WS. I’m trying to recall who the winning pitcher was in that game but it just won’t come to me. 😎
who the winning pitcher was.

Hey Ken, according to the Post, his name was Johnson. Liebold had been around (one of the White Sox in '19), at least, whereas Miller, Taylor, and several others that tried out during the season had only a few or no major league games to their credit. The turnover was amazing for a team vying for a pennant, but of course the core of the team was terrific, with good hitting at almost ever position, solid pitching, an inspirational young manager, etc. Earl McNeely actually got the winning hit, and he's a prime example of a player plugged into a key position in the heat of the pennant race without so much as a cup of coffee in the bigs.

[kcohen]

Originally Posted by Hankphenom

Hey Ken, according to the Post, his name was Johnson. Liebold had been around (one of the White Sox in '19), at least, whereas Miller, Taylor, and several others that tried out during the season had only a few or no major league games to their credit. The turnover was amazing for a team vying for a pennant, but of course the core of the team was terrific, with good hitting at almost ever position, solid pitching, an inspirational young manager, etc. Earl McNeely actually got the winning hit, and he's a prime example of a player plugged into a key position in the heat of the pennant race without so much as a cup of coffee in the bigs.

Whoops! McNeely of course. I stand corrected.