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Over the past few decades the card companies have produced some remarkably innovative cards. We have seen guitar picks from musicians, paw-prints of dogs, paintings of presidents, and many others fabulously creative sets. Companies have produced cards with signatures from players who have long since passed away (in the form of cut autographs), celebrities, world leaders, and just about anyone else who might sell. With all the creativity it is hard to believe that there has only been a single autograph set entirely geared to a major part of baseball history: the ***** Leagues.
The ***** Leagues are a part of baseball history that has not received the attention it deserves. Created because the Major Leagues did not allow people of color to join, the ***** Leagues were comprised of African Americans and others who were not allowed to play in the Major Leagues. While there is no way to state with certainty how they stacked up against the Major Leagues, ***** League teams performed quite well against teams of Major Leaguers when they played each other and eye witnesses have long told of the feats of legendary players—such as Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Cool Papa Bell.
Commemorating the league, Fleer produced a group of insert sets under the name “Stitches in Time” in their 2001 release. There were three sets: one with regular insert cards, one with game-used cards, and the one with autograph cards. While other cards have been made of these players, the autograph set is the only one ever created by a licensed company that is comprised exclusively of ***** League stars.
While the casual fan may never have heard of most ***** League players, some of the players who made it to the Majors became quite famous and successful. Seeing Ernie Banks wearing a Kansas City Monarch’s cap (with his signature underneath) is both an interesting window into history and a reminder of the challenges he faced to make it to the Major Leagues.
Featured in the autograph set, Monte Irvin was another ***** League player who had a solid career in the Majors. Having a lifetime career batting average of .293 and 99 homers, he had a nice Major League career; however, much of the world missed out seeing him in his prime—when he flirted with a .400 batting average in the ***** Leagues on numerous occasions. At age 92 Irvin is one of few ***** League players who we are lucky enough to still have with us.
A great ***** Leaguer in the set (who unfortunately never had a chance to play in the Major Leagues) was Buck O’Neil. He was a ***** League star who many believed deserved a HOF induction (although he did not receive the required votes to get in at the Veterans Committee’s 2006 vote in which they inducted over a dozen other ***** League players). O’Neil came to be a Major League scout for the Cubs and became one of the most honorable men in baseball. In 2006 he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush.
Fleer also included in the 2001 Stitches in Time autograph set was Joe Black and Ted “Double-Duty” Radcliffe. Curious event occurred during Fleer’s bankruptcy liquidation: A signed card of Artie Wilson surfaced.
The ***** Leagues is a reminder of the existence of racism and hatred that should have had no place in this country. Significantly, despite being included in the checklist, Willie Mays chose not to sign for the set, and he is known to not sign items that are connected to the ***** Leagues. (It is worth noting that a copy of the Mays card with a questionable looking signature was recently listed on eBay. It is believed the card was released unsigned from Fleer at the bankruptcy sale and then forged.)
The ***** Leagues are a part of baseball history that is often overlooked but one that should never be forgotten. When given the chance, the players showed that they were as good, if not better, than their white counterparts. The ***** Leaguers who excelled in the Majors include Jackie Robinson, the aforementioned Mays, and Hank Aaron. It is a shame that to this point only a single autograph set has been dedicated solely to this fabulously rich part of baseball history. On the bright side though, the set remains a hidden gem and one that can be obtained with some patience—even on a fairly moderate budget.
This article was submitted by FCB Member Topnotchsy
The ***** Leagues are a part of baseball history that has not received the attention it deserves. Created because the Major Leagues did not allow people of color to join, the ***** Leagues were comprised of African Americans and others who were not allowed to play in the Major Leagues. While there is no way to state with certainty how they stacked up against the Major Leagues, ***** League teams performed quite well against teams of Major Leaguers when they played each other and eye witnesses have long told of the feats of legendary players—such as Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Cool Papa Bell.
Commemorating the league, Fleer produced a group of insert sets under the name “Stitches in Time” in their 2001 release. There were three sets: one with regular insert cards, one with game-used cards, and the one with autograph cards. While other cards have been made of these players, the autograph set is the only one ever created by a licensed company that is comprised exclusively of ***** League stars.
While the casual fan may never have heard of most ***** League players, some of the players who made it to the Majors became quite famous and successful. Seeing Ernie Banks wearing a Kansas City Monarch’s cap (with his signature underneath) is both an interesting window into history and a reminder of the challenges he faced to make it to the Major Leagues.
Featured in the autograph set, Monte Irvin was another ***** League player who had a solid career in the Majors. Having a lifetime career batting average of .293 and 99 homers, he had a nice Major League career; however, much of the world missed out seeing him in his prime—when he flirted with a .400 batting average in the ***** Leagues on numerous occasions. At age 92 Irvin is one of few ***** League players who we are lucky enough to still have with us.
A great ***** Leaguer in the set (who unfortunately never had a chance to play in the Major Leagues) was Buck O’Neil. He was a ***** League star who many believed deserved a HOF induction (although he did not receive the required votes to get in at the Veterans Committee’s 2006 vote in which they inducted over a dozen other ***** League players). O’Neil came to be a Major League scout for the Cubs and became one of the most honorable men in baseball. In 2006 he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush.
Fleer also included in the 2001 Stitches in Time autograph set was Joe Black and Ted “Double-Duty” Radcliffe. Curious event occurred during Fleer’s bankruptcy liquidation: A signed card of Artie Wilson surfaced.
The ***** Leagues is a reminder of the existence of racism and hatred that should have had no place in this country. Significantly, despite being included in the checklist, Willie Mays chose not to sign for the set, and he is known to not sign items that are connected to the ***** Leagues. (It is worth noting that a copy of the Mays card with a questionable looking signature was recently listed on eBay. It is believed the card was released unsigned from Fleer at the bankruptcy sale and then forged.)
The ***** Leagues are a part of baseball history that is often overlooked but one that should never be forgotten. When given the chance, the players showed that they were as good, if not better, than their white counterparts. The ***** Leaguers who excelled in the Majors include Jackie Robinson, the aforementioned Mays, and Hank Aaron. It is a shame that to this point only a single autograph set has been dedicated solely to this fabulously rich part of baseball history. On the bright side though, the set remains a hidden gem and one that can be obtained with some patience—even on a fairly moderate budget.
This article was submitted by FCB Member Topnotchsy
