Hockey Hall of Famer - E.D. "Newsy" Lalonde

E.D. Lalonde was born October 31st, 1887 in Cornwall, Ontario. He went on to become one of the most prolific and famous players in the early era of professional hockey.

Lalonde earned the nickname "Newsy" working in a newspaper mill prior to his hockey career. Before the formation of the NHA in 1910. Lalonde had already established himself as an excellent hockey and lacrosse player. He was signed to play for the Montreal Canadien in their inaugural season and scored the first goal in franchise history.

Lalonde spent the next few seasons bouncing around to other teams such as Cyclone Taylor's Renfrew Millionaires and the PCHA's Vancouver Millionaires. However, he was traded back to the Canadien in exchange for fellow hall of famer Didier Pitre. He remained with the Habs for the next 10 seasons.

Lalonde was a key player of the franchise's first Stanley cup in 1916. It was also his only Stanley cup title. He was a part of the club when they joined the new NHL in 1917 and played and scored in the first game played in league history.

Lalonde would have preferred to stay a Hab, but had a following out with new Canadien owner Leo Dandurande who shipped him to Saskatoon where he would play in the newly formed WCHL. Waiver regulations forced the Habs to take back a player who ended up being future hall of famer Aurel Joliat. (The second hall of famer Lalonde had been traded for)

Lalonde had success with the Saskatoon Shieks as a player-coach leading them in scoring the first season. Although the team itself was not as successful. Lalonde did play with a number of future hall of famers including the Cook brothers, George Hainsworth, and Hugh Cameron.

Life after hockey saw Lalonde coach NHL teams in New York and Ottawa. His limited stats with the NHL are jaw dropping. He scored an amazing 124 goals and 158 points in a paltry 98 games!

He was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1950 and the Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1965.

In 1998, Lalonde was chosen as #32 in the Hockey New's 100 best players of all time.

Baltimore Orioles - Doc Adkins

Doc Adkins was born in Troy Wisconsin on August 5th, 1872. He had a cup of coffee with the New York Highlanders in 1903. Appearing in 2 games one of which was as a starter.

A career minor leaguer and player scout. His most notable player was Ernie Shore who he referred to Oriole owner Jack Dunn.

Of the entire T205 set. This is one of my five most favourite cards. (I'm partial to the minor league cards as a whole)

Philadelphia Athletic - Charles "Chief" Bender

Charles Bender was born in 1884 in Crow Wing County, Minnesota. He was a member of the Ojibwa First Nation Tribe. His native heritage is what earned him his moniker "Chief" a name I'm not entirely sure he appreciated.

Charles spent the bulk of his stellar pitching career with Connie Mack's Philadelphia Atheletics. In 1915 he did sign with the Baltimore Terrapins of the ill-fated Federal League. He returned to Philadelphia for a few seasons before leaving again to work on ship yards during WWI in 1918.

After the war he returned to baseball but predominantly as a coach. First with the White Sox and then back with Philadelphia and Connie Mack until 1950.

Charles Bender's career numbers saw him finish with a 212-127 record and a 2.46 ERA with over 1700 strikeouts.

3 time world champion with Philadelphia (1910, 1911, 1913)
Won 20 games twice in his career.
Threw a no-hitter in 1910.

Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953. One year before his death.

New York Yankee - Russell Ford

Russell Ford was born in Brandon, Manitoba on April 25, 1883. An early baseball pioneer from Canada. Russell Ford first debuted in the majors with the New York Highlanders in 1909.

Ford won 26 games in his rookie campaign and is only the third player. (The others being Christy Mathewson and Pete Alexander) to win 20+ and strike out over 200 batters in their first season.

Ford is credited with being the first pitcher to "scuff" the baseball using an emery board. He complemented this pitch with a spit ball, fast ball, and a knuckle ball.

His career ended with Buffalo in 1915. He managed to compile a 99-71 record with three 20 win campaigns. He was elected to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989.

Chicago Cubs - Jack Pfeister

John (Jack) Pfeister was born May 24th, 1878 in Cinncinati, OH. His rookie campaign in 1906 saw him post an astounding ERA of 1.51. The next season he bettered that by posting and ERA of 1.15 (the lowest in the league that season). His career ERA of 2.02 is amongst the lowest of all Major Leaguers with over 1000+ innings pitched.

He won World Series with the Cubs in 1907 and 1908 as well as a pennant with the Pirates in 1903. He finished his career with a 71-44 lifetime record.

Boston Red Sox - Tristram Speaker

Tristram Speaker was born on April 4th, 1888 in Hubbard, TX. He is considered one of the great offensive and defensive centerfielders to ever play the game. He was elected with the second group of hall of famers in 1937. Just the seventh member to enter the hall at that point.

Tris' first full season on the junior circuit began in 1909 and he batted a respectable .309 for the 3rd place Red Sox. The next season saw Boston sign Duffy Lewis to play in the outfield with Speaker and Harry Hooper. This became known as the million dollar outfield as one of the best outfields in the history of the game. (All three members of the hall of fame)

Speaker’s best season came in 1912. The Red Sox opened the newly built Fenway Park on April 20, 1912. Speaker played in every one of the Red Sox' 153 games, leading the American League in doubles with 53, and home runs with 10. He set a career high with 222 hits, 136 runs, 580 at-bats, and 52 steals. He was at the top of his game. He batted .383, a mark he would surpass three times in his career, but his .567 slugging percentage was the highest of his dead ball days. Speaker set a major league record when he had three batting streaks of 20 (30, 23, 22) or more games during the season. In center field he helped the Red Sox pitching staff by stabbing line drives and throwing out greedy base runners. The Red Sox won the pennant by finishing 14 games ahead of the Washington Senators and 15 games ahead of the Philadelphia A’s.

Speaker's career accomplishments sit along side the best who have ever played the game. As he finished his career with 3514 hits for a jaw dropping .345 lifetime batting average.

* World Series champion: 1912, 1915, 1920
* Most career doubles (792)
* Most career outfield assists (449)
* Fifth highest lifetime major-league batting average (.345)
* Fifth in career hits
* Sixth in career triples
* Eighth in career runs
* Led American League in batting 1 time
* Led American League in slugging percentage 1 time
* Led American League in on base percentage 4 times
* Led American League in hits 1 time
* Led American League in total bases 1 time
* Led American League in doubles 8 times
* Led American League in home runs 1 time
* Led American League outfielders in putouts 7 times
* Led American League outfielders in double plays 6 times
* Led American League outfielders in assists 3 times
* Led American League outfielders in fielding average 2 times
* Batted over .380 five times
* Struck out only 220 times in 10,195 at-bats

Pittsburgh Pirate - Charles Phillippe

Charles Deacon Phillippe was born on May 23rd, 1872 in Rural Retreat, Virginia. Phillippe first appeared in pro baseball with the National League's Louisville Colonels in 1899. He had a 21-17 record that year, which was highlighted by a no-hitter in just his seventh career game.

Charles was known a fantastic control pitcher. In fact, his control is so good that no pitcher has as few walks per 9 innings then Phillippe since the mound was moved to 60 feet 6 inches in 1893.

Charles was the Ace of the Pirates staff in the 1903 season in which the Pirates reached the World Series and faced the Cy Young led Boston club. Phillippe earned the honor of starting the first World Series game for the Pirates against the Boston Americans in 1903. In a complete game victory, Phillippe struck out 10 batters and earned the win against Cy Young to start the best-of-9 series.[2] He single-handedly guided the Pirates to a 3-1 series lead, earning the wins in each game, but when his arm wore down due to overuse, the Americans came back to win the series 5 games to 3, with Phillippe losing the last two. His five decisions in the World Series are still a record for a pitcher.

Deacon is one of a handful of pitchers to hit a grand slam in a game which he accomplished on July 22nd, 1910 in the second inning against Frank Miller of the Brooklyn club.

Career Stats:

Wins: 189
ERA: 2.59
League leader in Opposing Batting Average: 1900 (.289), 1903 (.263)
Championships: National League Titles in 1900 and 1903. World Championship in 1909.