Player Profile: Addie Joss

[Therion]

Today at http://therion.today.com features HOFer Addie Joss.

An amazing player that most modern fans have never heard of. And to think he's the reason for the All-Star Game. Read on!

 

[Jeff D]

Nice little write-up and great player. One thing you didn't mention is that he was inducted into the HOF despite NOT having played the requisite 10 year minimum. To my knowledge he's the only player without at least 10 seasons under his belt.

I don't have a T205 yet, which has mention of his passing and brief bio on the back. But I'm a big fan of this one in my collection:

 

[Austin]

An amazing player that most modern fans have never heard of.
And to think he's the reason for the All-Star Game.
From the article: "How much impact can a single player have on the game and still go mostly unknown to the average baseball fan?
How about being singly responsible for the All-Star Game? "

Calling Joss the reason for the All-Star Game is a huge stretch and technically innaccurate.
As you wrote, the 1911 game was a benefit featuring the league's best players, to raise money for Joss' family.
But the league did not sanction the game and the commissioner actually threatened any player who planned to play.
The first official All Star Game was played in 1933, 22 years after the Joss benefit game, and they had absolutely nothing to do with each other.
It was held as part of the 1933 World's Fair in Chicago, Illinois, and was the idea of the sports editor for The Chicago Tribune.

 

[Therion]

Perhaps a stretch but not "technically incorrect". It was the first All-Star Game. It was played despite being unsanctioned. The American League backed off despite earlier threatening to fine players for participating.

 

[Therion]

No love for a HOFer?

 

[Therion]

Bump for the evening folks.

 

[A_Pharis]

Nice, as always, Therion! I enjoyed the read!

 

[Mighty Bombjack]

As a HOF auto collector, I can say that Joss is one of the holy grails due to his early death. An auto of his wife sold on the bay a few months back and actually had quite a bit of action.

Nice work Therion

 

[bikerider60]

Great player, short career.........

 

[Therion]

Glad to see a little love for an older era player. Keep the comments coming guys.